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THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OP  CAUHMUQU 
AN6BLB8 


SHAMROCK  AND  THISTLE; 


OR, 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND 
AND    SCOTLAND. 


A  STORY  OF  TRAVEL  AND  ADVENTURE. 

BY 

OLIVER    OPTIC. 


BOSTON: 
LEE    AND     SHEPARI),    PUBLISHERS. 

NEW   YORK: 

LEE,  SHEPARD  AND  DILLINGHAM. 
1874. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1867,  by 

WILLIAM   T.   ADAMS, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


E1ECTROTTPED    AT    THE 

Boston    Stereotype    Foundry, 
No.  4  Spring  Lane. 


College 
Library 

~PS 


To  MY  YOUNG  FRIEND 

ROBINSON     LOCKE 

This  Volume 

is 
AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED 


•1  'T/i  *^n 

L**-rib<UV> 


YOUNG  AMERICA  ABROAD 

BY  OLIVER  OPTIC. 

A  Library  of  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Foreign  Lands.  First 
and  Second  Series ;  six  volumes  in  each  Series.  i6mo. 
Illustrated. 

First  Series. 
I.    OUTWARD  BOUND;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  AFLOAT. 

II.  SHAMROCK  AND  THISTLE;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA 

IN  IRELAND  AND  SCOTLAND. 

III.  RED  CROSS;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  ENGLAND  AND 

WALES. 

IV.  DIKES  AND  DITCHES;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN 

HOLLAND  AND  BELGIUM. 
V.  PALACE  AND    COTTAGE;   OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA 

IN  FRANCE  AND  SWITZERLAND. 

VI.    DOWN    THE    RHINE;    OR,  YOUNG    AMERICA    IN 
GERMANY. 

Second  Series. 

I.    UP  THE  BALTIC;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  DENMARK 
AND  SWEDEN. 

H.  NORTHERN    LANDS;     OR,    YOUNG   AMERICA    IN 
PRUSSIA  AND  RUSSIA. 

III.  VINE  AND   OLIVE;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  SPAIN 

AND  PORTUGAL. 

IV.  SUNNY  SHORES ;   OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  ITALY 

AND  AUSTRIA. 
V.    CROSS  AND    CRESCENT;   OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA 

IN  GREECE  AND  TURKEY. 

VI.  ISLES  OF  THE  SEA ;  OR,  YOUNG  AMERICA  HOME 
WARD  BOUND. 


PREFACE. 


SHAMROCK  AND  THISTLE,  the  second  of  the  "YouN<» 
AMERICA  ABROAD  "  series,  contains  the  history  of  the  Acade 
my  Ship,  and  the  students  who  sailed  in  her  on  the  coasts  of 
Ireland  and  Scotland,  with  their  excursions  into  the  interior. 
Whatever  the  volume  contains  of  a  descriptive  character  was 
derived  from  the  note-book  of  the  author,  written  in  the  midst 
of  the  scenes  it  describes,  and  from  an  extensive  collection  of 
works  gathered  in  England  and  the  United  States.  But  the 
book  hardly  aspires  to  the  dignity  of  a  history,  or  even  of  a 
book  of  travels,  though  the  writer  has  been  careful  correctly 
to  set  down  all  that  would  be  presumed  to  lie  within  the  limit 
of  fact. 

As  a  story,  the  volume  contains,  besides  a  variety  of  minor 
incidents,  the  history  of  certain  runaways,  who,  disaffected 
under  the  salutary  discipline  of  the  ship,  deserted  from  her, 
and  travelled  in  strange  lands  under  their  own  guidance,  and 
on  their  own  resources ;  but  only  to  be  captured,  returned, 
and  punished  for  their  transgressions.  It  is  not  believed  that 
any  young  reader  will  be  fascinated  by  their  experience  in  the 
path  of  error ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  a  strict  devotion  to 
duty,  a  cheerful  submission  to  the  requirements  of  wholesome 
discipline,  and  a  faithful  adherence  to  moral  and  religious 


6  PREFACE. 

principle,  will  be  deemed  the  safest,  because  they  are  the  truest 
incentives  which  can  influence  the  youthful  mind. 

It  is  not  so  easy  to  convey  useful  and  valuable  information, 
even  in  regard  to  foreign  lands,  as  it  is  to  tell  an  interesting 
or  an  exciting  story.  The  plan  of  this  and  the  subsequent 
volumes  of  the  series  includes  a  certain  amount  of  geo 
graphical  and  historical  matter,  which  may  not  be  as  accept 
able  to  the  young  reader  as  exciting  incidents  of  personal 
adventure ;  but  it  is  hoped  there  will  be  enough  of  the  latter 
to  season  the  former,  and  render  the  useful  and  valuable 
palatable  to  the  reader. 

With  more  of  fear  and  trembling,  therefore,  than  usual, 
the  author  presents  SHAMROCK  ANJ>  THISTLE  to  his  friends, 
hoping  that  its  story  will  please,  while  its  historical  and 
descriptive  pages  will  instruct  and  benefit  them. 

HARBISON  SQUARE,  MASS. 
September  30, 1867. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGB 

I.  GEOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY.          .        .        .        .11 

II.  QUEENSTOWN  TO   CORK 28 

III.  BLARNEY  CASTLE. 44 

IV.  A  QUESTION  OF  FINANCE 59 

V.  THE  LAKES  OF  KILLARNEY.         ....  75 

VI.  THE  GAP  OF  DUNLOE 91 

VII.  THE  BOATMEN  OF  KILLARNEY 107 

VIII.  THE  KEY  OF  THE  SAFE 123 

IX.  SIXTY  POUNDS  IN  GOLD.  .  " .  .  .  .  139 

X.  THE  VOYAGE  TO  DUBLIN.  ....  154 

XI.  THE  FAIR  ARCHERS  OF  BELFAST.          .        .        .  169 

XII.  THE  JOURNEY  OF  THE  RUNAWAYS.  .  .  185 

XIH.  SOMETHING  ABOUT  SCOTLAND 202 

XIV.  THE  DESERTERS  IN  GLASGOW.  .  .  .  217 

XV.  THE  LAND  OF  BURNS. 235 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PACK 

XVI.  PELHAM'S  ADVENTURE.      .....  250 

XVII.  LOCH  LOMOND .  261 

XVIII.  THE  MISFORTUNE  OF  THE  RUNAWAYS.    .        .  284 

XIX.  STIRLING  CASTLE.          .....  303 

XX.  PAUL  KENDALL  IN  EDINBURGH.        .        .        .321 

XXI. ,.  CONCLUSION.    .......  335 


SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE. 


SHAMROCK  AND  THISTLE ; 

OR, 

YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND 
SCOTLAND. 


CHAPTER   I. 

GEOGRAPHY  AND   HISTORY. 

THE  Young  America  lay  at  anchor  in  the  harbor 
of  Queenstown.  She  had  made  her  passage 
across  the  Atlantic  in  twenty-six  days,  during  which 
time  the  regular  studies  of  the  scholastic  branches  of 
the  Academy  had  been  pursued  with  only  an  occa 
sional  interruption  by  bad  weather.  Her  officers  and 
crew  had  performed  their  sea  duty  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  principal.  There  had  been  no  serious  accidents 
and  no  sickness  on  board  during  the  voyage.  Dr. 
Winstock  could  not  command  a  patient  for  more  than 
a  single  day ;  but  his  position  was  by  no  means  an 
ornamental  one,  for  there  was  hardly  a  busier  person 
in  the  ship.  It  was  doubtless  owing,  in  a  large  meas 
ure,  to  his  watchfulness  and  his  valuable  sanitary  regu 
lations,  that  the  health  of  the  students  was  so  effec 
tually  secured. 

(ii) 


12  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

Mr.  Lovvington,  the  principal,  who  had  devised 
inaugurated  the  system  of  instruction  and  discipline 
carried  out  in  the  Academy  Ship,  was  entirely  satis 
fied  with  the  experiment.  During  the  preceding  year 
he  had  devoted  his  whole  time  and  attention  to  the 
management  of  the  institution,  and  being  a  gentleman 
of  abundant  wealth,  this  was  no  small  sacrifice.  He 
had  devoted  himself  to  his  idea  as  a  philanthropist, 
rather  than  as  a  speculator.  The  ship  had  crossed  the 
ocean,  not  only  to  give  the  students  a  needed  variety 
in  their  academic  life,  but  to  afford  them  an  opportunity 
to  see  the  wonders  of  the  Old  World,  and  thus  to  cul 
tivate  the  taste,  enlarge  the  understanding,  and  give 
them  broader  views  of  nature  and  humanity. 

During  the  season  before  them,  the  ship's  company 
were  to  be  tourists  as  well  as  seamen  and  students. 
It  was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Lowington  to  adapt  the 
course  of  study  in  geography  and  history  to  the  local 
ities  to  be  visited  by  the  pupils.  The  geography  and 
histoiy  of  Ireland  were  to  be  the  prominent  topics 
while  the  Young  America  was  in  the  waters  of  that 
country,  and  while  the  students  were  visiting  the  scenes 
of  great  historic  events.  The  revolution  of  1688,  in 
its  relation  to  Irish  affairs,  could  nowhere  be  so  inter 
esting  and  impressive  as  at  Drogheda  and  on  the  banks 
of  the  Boyne,  where  the  battle  in  which  James  II.  was 
overwhelmed  and  the  power  of  William  III.  estab 
lished. 

The  principal  anticipated  great  results  from  the 
summer  cruise  of  the  ship.  Though  a  firm  discipli 
narian,  he  was  not  an  austere  man.  While  he  was 
unwilling  to  give  up  the  occasion  entirely  to  frolic  and 


YOUNG  AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.     13 

intemperate  sight-seeing,  he  intended  that  his  pupils 
should  enjoy  themselves.  The  regular  routine  of  study 
was  to  be  pursued  with  as  little  interruption  as  possi 
ble,  though  it  was  not  expected  that  the  purely  intel 
lectual  results  would  compare  favorably  with  those  of 
the  preceding  year. 

As  soon  as  the  ship  came  to  anchor  in  Queenstown 
harbor,  boats  from  the  shore  began  to  surround  her ; 
but  no  visitors  were  allowed  on  board.  The  adult 
forward  officers  were  placed  at  the  gangways,  and  no 
amount  of  persuasive  Irish  blarney  could  induce  them 
to  allow  any  of  the  hotel  runners,  pedlers,  or  beggars, 
to  place  a  foot  on  board.  After  dinner,  the  first  busi 
ness  was  to  put  the  ship  in  order ;  but  the  boys  were 
impatient  to  go  on  shore.  There  was  a  world  of  new 
sights  and  sounds  on  the  land  near  them,  and  they 
were  naturally  very  eager  to  mingle  at  once  with 
them. 

As  soon  as  the  decks  were  "  swept  and  garnished," 
all  hands  were  piped  to  muster,  and  the  students 
sprang  to  their  stations,  hoping  to  obtain  some  idea 
of  the  programme  for  the  future,  and  especially  to 
learn  when  they  were  to  be  permitted  to  go  on  shore. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  "  our 
voyage  across  the  Atlantic  is  happily  finished  ;  and  in 
our  hearts  let  us  thank  God  for  his  mercy  in  conduct 
ing  us  safely  through  the  perils  of  the  mighty  deep. 
I  have  made  many  voyages,  and  this  sentiment  has 
been  uppermost  in  my  thoughts  at  the  end  of  all  of 
them. 

"  My  young  friends,  you  are  naturally  impatient  to 
visit  the  shore.  I  sympathize  with  you  in  this  feeling, 

2 


14  SHAMROCK  AND   THISTLE,   OR 

and  I  shall  not  unnecessarily  delay  the  privilege  ;  but 
I  wish  to  ask  you  what  this  ship  is." 

"  The  Academy  Ship,  '  Young  America,' "  replied 
several. 

"  Precisely  so  —  the  Academy  Ship.  Our  first  busi 
ness,  you  are  all  aware,  is  not  with  the  objects  of  in 
terest  on  shore.  This  is  an  academy.  You  have  cer 
tain  duties  to  perform  on  board ;  certain  lessons  to 
learn  and  recite.  This  must  be  your  first  care." 

"  I  don't  know  how  we  are  to  see  anything  of  the 
country  if  we  have  to  study  and  recite  every  day," 
said  one  of  the  crew. 

"  The  routine  will  be  entirely  different  in  port  from 
that  followed  at  sea,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington.  "  You 
will  turn  out  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  wash  down 
the  decks,  and  put  the  ship  in  order.  At  eight  the 
studies  will  be  commenced,  and  continued,  with  a 
recess  of  half  an  hour  for  dinner,  until  half  past  one. 
The  rest  of  the  day  will  be  occupied  in  visiting  the 
shore.  The  lessons  must  be  attended  to  for  five  hours 
a  day ;  but  the  time  will  be  varied  as  occasion  may 
require. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  I  propose,  in  the  course  of  a 
week  or  ten  days,  to  give  you  a  brief  vacation  ;  and  I 
have  already  planned  an  excursion  to  the  Lakes  of 
Killarney.  We  will  take  with  us  the  gig  and  the  four 
cutters.  When  we  have  visited  Cork,  GlengarifF,  and 
the  Lakes,  you  will  have  seen  all  there  is  of  special 
interest  in  the  south  of  Ireland.  In  the  course  of  two 
or  three  days  we  will  go  up  to  Cork.  Now,  my 
young  friends,  I  wish  you  to  curb  this  useless  impa 
tience,  attend  to  your  regular  duties  faithfully,  and 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     15 

remember  that  the  more  progress  you  make  in  your 
studies,  the  greater  will  be  your  opportunities  for  vis 
iting  places  of  importance  on  shore.  When  you  are 
dismissed  from  muster,  you  will  pipe  to  the  steerage, 
where  Professor  Mapps  will  give  you  his  first  lecture 
on  the  geography  of  Ireland." 

The  boys  were  dismissed,  and  they  exhibited  a  com 
mendable  disposition  to  regard  the  good  advice  of  the 
principal.  Books  relating  to  the  geography  and  his 
tory  of  Ireland  were  straightway  in  great  demand. 
There  was  an  extensive  library  of  books  of  reference 
on  board,  and  before  the  professor  commenced  his  lec 
ture,  many  important  facts  had  been  collected  by  the 
zealous  pupils. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Lowington,"  said  Dr. 
Winstock,  as  the  principal  stepped  down  from  the 
hatch,  "  if  I  may  seem  to  interfere  with  the  discipline 
of  the  ship  ;  but  I  wish  to  ask  a  favor.  I  desire  to 
visit  Cork  this  afternoon,  and  to  take  the  second  lieu 
tenant  with  me,  upon  a  matter  of  some  importance 
connected  with  the  ship,  but  which  you  must  excuse 
me  for  not  mentioning." 

"  Certainly,  doctor,"  replied  the  principal,  who  ap 
peared  to  be  puzzled  that  there  should  be  anything 
relating  to  the  ship  which  needed  to  be  concealed 
from  him. 

"  There  is  no  treason  in  my  purpose,"  laughed  the 
surgeon.  "  Mr.  Kendall  will  make  up  his  lessons  in 
his  own  time." 

"  But  he  will  lose  the  professor's  lecture." 

"  We  will  not  leave  till  that  is  finished." 

Dr.  Winstock  had  forty-three  pounds  ten  shillings 


l6  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

in  drafts  on  the  principal  for  the  purchase  of  the  silver 
plate  to  be  presented  to  Mr.  Lowington,  and  he  wished 
to  visit  Cork  to  obtain  the  gift.  Unwilling  to  confide 
wholly  in  his  own  taste,  he  desired  the  assistance  of 
Paul  Kendall  in  making  the  selection. 

After  being  dismissed  from  muster,  the  students 
collected  in  the  steerage,  which  was  the  school-room 
of  the  ship,  to  hear  the  lecture  of  Professor  Mapps. 
They  seated  themselves  on  the  stools  as  near  the  fore 
mast  as  they  could  gather.  On  the  mast  hung  a  large 
map  of  Ireland,  in  front  of  which  stood  the  instructor. 

Though  the  exercise  in  which  the  students  were 
now  to  engage  was  called  a  lecture,  it  was  more  prop 
erly  a  conversation  party,  in  which  the  pupils  were 
expected  to  ask  questions,  and  comment  on  the  subject. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  where  are  we? "  asked  the  pro~ 
fessor. 

"  In  the  steerage,"  replied  a  wag  near  the  professor. 

"  Excellent !  "  laughed  Mr.  Mapps.  "  Your  wisdom 
surpasseth  that  of  the  foolish.  Where  is  the  ship?" 

"  In  Queenstown  Harbor." 

"  Where  is  Queenstown  ?  " 

"  In  Ireland." 

"  Good  !  We  have  reached  the  point.  What  is  the 
area  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts  ?  " 

"  Eight  thousand  seven  hundred  square  miles." 

"Of  New  York?" 

"  Forty-seven  thousand  square  miles." 

"Of  Maine?" 

"  Thirty-one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-six 
square  miles." 

"  Of  Texas,  the  largest  of  the  United  States?" 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     17 

"  Two  hundred  and  thirty-seven  thousand  five  hun 
dred  and  four  square  miles,"  replied  one  of  the  boys 
who  remembered  the  figures,  while  all  wondered  what 
this  had  to  do  with  the  geography  of  Ireland. 

"  Very  well.     Now,  what  is  the  area  of  Ireland  ?  " 

"  Thirty-two  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirteen 
square  miles,"  answered  twenty  of  the  boys,  who  had 
just  obtained  the  information  from  the  books. 

"  Ireland,  then,  is  more  than  three  times  as  large  as 
Massachusetts  ;  two  thirds  as  large  as  New  York,  and 
one  eighth  the  size  of  Texas,  and  of  about  the  same 
area  as  the  State  of  Maine.  The  longest  straight  line 
that  could  be  drawn  through  the  island  would  be  from 
north-east  to  south-west,  three  hundred  and  four  miles 
in  length  ;  and  its  greatest  width  is  one  hundred  and 
ninety-four  miles.  Can  any  of  you  tell  me  the  proper 
name,  given  as  a  whole,  to  England,  Scotland,  Wales, 
and  Ireland  ! " 

"Great  Britain,"  replied  a  forward  young  man. 

"  No  ;  Great  Britain  is  the  island  which  includes 
England,  Scotland,  and  Wales.  After  the  Irish  rev 
olution  of  1798?  tne  British  government  took  advan 
tage  of  the  conquest  it  had  just  achieved  to  unite  the 
two  countries  more  effectually  than  they  had  before 
been  united.  The  purpose  was  carried  out  in  1801, 
and  the  first  article  of  the  compact  was  to  the  effect 
that  the  two  islands  should  henceforward  be  called 
The  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland." 

"  That  is  a  pretty  long  name,"  suggested  a  student. 

"  The  United  Kingdom  is  sufficient  for  ordinary 
purposes,"  added  Professor  Mapps.  "  Can  you  men 
tion  any  appellations  given  to  Ireland  ?  " 


1 8  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  The  Emerald  Isle,"  said  one. 

"  The  Green  Isle,"  replied  another. 

"  Both  on  account  of  the  rich  green  of  the  island. 
The  grass  is  the  finest  and  best  for  cattle." 

"  The  Gim  of  the  Say,"  laughed  another. 

"A  pet  name  derived  from  the  emerald,  which  is 
green.  But  what  is  the  favorite  poetical  name  ?  " 

"  Hibernia,"  answered  Goodwin. 

"  Erin,"  replied  Paul  Kendall. 

"  Erin  go  bragh  !  "  added  Pelham. 

"  Erin,"  said  the  instructor.  "  '  Erin  go  bragh  ! ' 
means  '  Hurrah  for  Ireland,'  or  '  Ireland  forever.' 
Eri,  or  Erin,  is  the  name  by  which  the  island  was 
called  by  the  natives.  It  means  '  western.'  By  the 
ancients  it  was  known  as  lerna,  louerna,  luverna  ; 
and  from  these  it  has  been  corrupted  into  Hibcrma. 
The  people  of  ancient  Britain  called  it  Iverdon,  and 
the  Saxons  who  conquered  them,  lerland,  which  be 
came  Ireland,  its  present  name,  by  one  of  the  changes 
of  spelling  common  in  our  language. 

"  Now,  young  gentlemen,  glance  at  the  map,"  con 
tinued  the  professor,  taking  his  pointer.  "  Ireland  is 
bounded  on  three  sides  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean  ;  on  the 
ea£t  by  the  North  Channel,  which  is  only  fourteen 
miles  wide  between  the  Mull  of  Cantire,  in  Scotland, 
and  Torr  Point,  the  north-eastern  headland  of  Ireland  ; 
by  the  Irish  Sea,  which  is  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles 
'broad,  and  St.  George's  Channel,  seventy  miles  wide. 

"  The  surface  of  the  country  is  undulating ;  and 
there  is  seldom  an  elevation  which  rises  to  the  dignity 
of  a  mountain,  though  some  of  them  are,  by  courtesy, 
called  such.  The  slopes  are  generally  gradual,  and 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.       19 

there  are  extensive  plains  occupied  by  moorlands  and 
bogs,  from  the  latter  of  which  is  taken  the  peat  —  or 
turf,  as  the  people  call  it  —  used  for  fuel  by  all  the 
poorer  classes. 

"  In  glancing  at  the  physical  geography  of  the  island, 
you  perceive  that  the  hilly  regions  are  near  the  coast. 
In  the  south-west  are  found  the  greatest  elevations. 
The  highest  mountain  is  Carrantual,  one  of  McGilli- 
cuddy's  Reeks,  in  the  county  of  Kerry ;  but  it  is  only 
three  thousand  four  hundred  and  fourteen  feet  high. 
\Vhat  is  the  height  of  Mount  Washington?" 

"  Six  thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  feet," 
replied  several. 

"  Of  Kunchinginga,  the  highest  in  the  world?" 

"  Twenty-eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  feet." 

"The  Irish  mountains,  then,  are  hardly  worth  men 
tioning.  The  highest  in  the  United  Kingdom  is  Ben 
Nevis,  in  Scotland,  which  is  about  the  height  of  Mount 
Mansfield  and  Camel's  Hump,  in  Vermont.  What  is 
the  largest  river  of  Ireland?" 

"  The  Shannon." 

"  How  long?" 

"  Two  hundred  and  twenty-four  miles." 

"  English  authorities  call  it  two  hundred  and  forty 
miles.  The  Thames  and  the  Severn,  in  England,  are 
of  about  the  same  length.  We  do  not  regard  the  Con 
necticut,  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  length,  as  a 
large  river  in  our  own  country,  though  it  is  nearly 
twice  as  long  as  the  largest  rivers  of  the  United  King 
dom.  Our  ship  now  floats  in  Queenstown  Harbor, 
or  the  Cove  of  Cork,  which  is  the  estuary  of  the  River 


2O  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

Lee.  This  stream  has  its  source  in  Lake  Gougane* 
Barra,  and  has  a  course  of  thirty-five  miles.  The 
other  principal  rivers  are  the  Barrow,  Suir,  Slaney, 
Erne,  Foyle,  Bann,  Blackvvater,  Boyne,  and  the  Liftey. 
What  are  lakes  called  in  Ireland?" 

"  Loughs." 

"  The  same  as  Lochs  in  Scotland.  The  lakes  of 
the  United  Kingdom,  measured  by  the  American 
standard,  are  small  affairs.  Lough  Neagh,  in  the 
north  of  Ireland,  the  largest,  is  a  little  larger  than 
Lake  Winnipiseogee,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  Cayu- 
ga  Lake,  in  New  York.  What  are  the  four  provinces 
of  Ireland,  Mr.  Goodwin  ?  " 

"  Ulster,  Munster,  Leinster,  and  Connaught." 

"  How  many  counties  are  there?" 

"  Thirty-two." 

"  The  government  of  the  country  is  administered 
by  a  viceroy,  or  lord  lieutenant,  appointed  by  the 
queen,  who  resides  at  Dublin.  He  has  a  privy  coun 
cil  to  assist  him,  the  members  of  which  are  also  ap 
pointed  by  the  crown.  Ireland  is  now  represented  in 
the  British  Parliament — of  which  I  shall  have  some 
thing  to  say  in  the  future  —  by  four  spiritual  and 
twenty-eight  temporal  peers,  with  one  hundred  and 
five  commoners." 

"What  are  spiritual  peers,  Mr.  Mapps?"  asked 
Paul  Kendall. 

"  Archbishops  or  bishops  of  the  established  church, 
who  occupy  seats  in  the  House  of  Lords.  A  peer  is 
a  member  of  the  upper  house  of  Parliament,  corre 
sponding  to  our  Senate.  The  country  is  not  repre 
sented  wholly  with  regard  to  the  number  of  the 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IX   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.       21 

population.  Members  are  elected  for  boroughs,  or 
districts,  for  cities,  and  even  for  universities.  Each 
county  in  Ireland  is  entitled  to  two  members,  making 
sixty-four ;  certain  towns  have  thirty-nine ;  and  the 
University  of  Dublin  has  two. 

"  Each  county  in  Ireland  is  governed  by  a  lieuten 
ant,  —  who  is  generally  a  peer  of  the  realm,  —  assisted 
by  deputy  lieutenants  and  magistrates,  appointed  by 
the  crown. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  perhaps  you  have  already 
noticed  that  the  climate  here  is  milder  than  our 
own,  though  we  are  now  nearly  ten  degrees  farther 
north  than  Brockway.  The  summers  are  not  so 
•warm,  nor  the  winters  so  cold,  as  with  us.  If  you 
glance  at  your  nautical  charts,  you  will  observe  that 
the  warm  waters  of  the  Gulf  Stream  flow  in  this 
direction  ;  and  they  have  a  very  sensible  effect  in  mod 
erating  and  equalizing  the  temperature.  Ireland  has 
about  the  average  climate  of  Virginia,  though  its  ex 
tremes  of  heat  and  cold  are  not  so  great. 

"  The  moisture  of  the  atmosphere  favors  the  growth 
of  the  grass,  though  it  injures  the  wheat  crop.  Oats 
and  barley  are  the  principal  grains  ;  flax  is  extensively 
produced  in  the  north,  while  potatoes  are  raised  in 
every  part  of  the  island,  and  form  the  chief  article  of 
diet  of  the  poorer  classes.  The  agriculture  of  Ireland 
is  inferior  to  that  of  Scotland  and  England. 

"  A  few  words   in  regard   tb  the  history  of  Ireland . 
will  complete  what  I  have  to  say  at  present.     Noth 
ing  authentic  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  Ireland, 
though   a  very   remote   antiquity  is  claimed  by  Irish 
writers  for  their  country.     The  first  event  of  present 


22  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

importance  is  the  conversion  of  the  natives  to  Chris 
tianity,  a  work  which  was  commenced  by  St.  Patrick." 

"  Long  life  to  him  !  "  said  Lynch,  who  was  of  Irish 
descent ;  whereat  everybody  laughed,  including  the 
professor. 

"  St.  Patrick  was  a  Scotchman  —  " 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it  —  begging  your  pardon,  Mr. 
Mapps,"  interrupted  Lynch  again. 

"  What  was  he  ?  " 

"  An  Irishman,  to  be  sure.  How  could  St.  Patrick 
be  a  Scotchman?" 

"  There  are  grave  doubts  in  regard  to  his  birth 
place,  I  acknowledge,"  replied  the  professor,  with  a 
smile.  "  Some  say  he  was  born  in  Scotland,  others 
in  England,  and  still  others  in  France ;  but  none 
claim  that  he  was  born  in  Ireland.  It  is  said  that  he 
was  taken  prisoner  in  this  country  in  his  youth,  and 
was  employed  as  a  swineherd  for  seven  years,  during 
which  time  he  learned  the  Irish  language.  Having 
first  studied  with  his  uncle,  the  Bishop  of  Tours,  St. 
Patrick  went  to  Rome,  and  was  sent  to  Ireland,  with 
thirty-four  assistants,  to  Christianize  the  people,  by 
Pope  Celestine.  After  ten  years  of  labor  and  dis 
couragement,  he  converted  the  king,  Laera  II.,  and 
then  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  travelling  over  the 
country,  making  converts,  and  founding  churches  and 
monasteries.  He  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty. 

"  After  the  introduction  of  Christianity,  civilization 
and  learning  made  considerable  advances.  A  school, 
founded  at  Armagh,  was  celebrated  all  over  Europe ; 
and  for  a  time  the  island  had  so  great  a  reputation  for 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.       23 

learned  ecclesiastics  that  it  was  called  the  '  Island  of 
Saints.' 

"  In  the  eleventh  century,  Brian  Boroimhe,  King 
of  Munster,  drove  the  Danes  from  his  own  kingdom, 
and  was  crowned  King  of  Ireland,  at  Tara,  the  ancient 
capital  of  the  island,  where  a  magnificent  royal  palace 
is  supposed  to  have  been  located.  Moore,  the  Irish 
poet,  sings  the  fallen  fortunes  of  the  place  in  the  well- 
known  lines :  — 

'  The  harp  that  once  through  Tara's  halls 

The  soul  of  music  shed, 
Now  hangs  as  mute  on  Tara's  walls 
As  if  that  soul  were  fled.' 

Brian  Boroimhe,  when  Ireland  was  again  invaded  by 
the  Danes,  instigated  by  the  King  of  Leinster,  fought 
the  great  battle  of  Clontarf,  in  which  he  was  slain. 
His  body  was  conveyed  to  Armagh  in  solemn  proces 
sion,  placed  in  the  cathedral,  and  for  twelve  days  and 
nights  the  clergy  continued  their  prayers  and  devo 
tions  over  the  corpse.  Moore  chants  his  praises  in  a 
poem  :  — 

'  Remember  the  glories  of  Brian  the  brave, 

Though  the  days  of  the  hero  are  o'er; 
Though  lost  to  Mononia,  and  cold  in  the  grave, 

He  returns  to  Kinkora  no  more.  * 
That  star  of  the  field,  which  so  often  hath  poured 

Its  beam  on  the  battle,  is  set; 
But  enough  of  its  glory  remains  in  each  sword 

To  light  us  to  victory  yet.' 

"  After  the  death  of  the  powerful  Brian,  internal 
discord  pervaded  the  island.  It  was  the  scene  of 
various  strifes,  until  the  sovereignty  of  the  country 


24  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

was  given  to  Henry  II.,  in  1174,  by  the  pope  ;  but  it 
was  not  finally  subdued  till  1210,  when  a  charter  of 
liberties  was  granted  to  the  people  by  King  John. 
The  obstinate  Irish  barons  continued  to  resist  the 
government  of  England,  and  rebellions  have  been 
as  fashionable  in  Ireland  as  pipes  are  in  Holland, 
the  most  noted  of  which  were  those  of  1641,  1689, 
and  1798. 

"  Ireland  has  been  grievously  oppressed  by  England. 
Henry  VIII.  took  the  title  of  King  of  Ireland,  though 
only  a  small  portion  of  the  country  was  really  subject. 
to  the  English  laws.  He  introduced  the  Protestant 
reformation  into  the  country ;  and  the  province  of 
Ulster,  in  the  north,  was  settled  by  Scotch  and  Eng 
lish  people  of  this  faith.  During  the  civil  wars  in 
England,  the  Irish  Catholics  attempted  to  overthrow 
the  new  religion,  and  an  insurrection  broke  out  in 
Ulster,  which  extended  through  all  parts  of  the  island. 
Ireland  was  in  a  state  of  anarchy  till  1649,  when  Crom 
well  came  with  his  army  and  suppressed  the  rebellion. 

"  In  1688,  after  James  II.  had  abandoned  the  Eng 
lish  throne,  and  William  and  Mary  had  been  pro 
claimed  joint  sovereigns,  the  self-exiled  monarch,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  French,  rallied  the  Irish  Catholics 
under  his  banner,  established  his  court  at  Dublin,  and 
held  the  country  until  his  disastrous  defeat  in  the 
battle  of  the  Boyne.  His  power  was  completely 
overthrown  in  1791.  The  Catholics  were  fiercely 
persecuted  after  the  conquest ;  their  estates  were  con 
fiscated,  and  for  the  succeeding  hundred  years  they 
Were  relentlessly  oppressed.  Catholics  were  not  eli 
gible  to  offices  of  trust,  were  excluded  from  the  army 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.       25 

and  navy,  not  allowed  to  keep  or  to  bear  arms,  and 
were  otherwise  deprived  of  their  rights. 

"  The  people  were  uneasy  and  discontented  ;  they 
demanded  equal  privileges  ;  and  towards  the  close  of 
the  eighteenth  century,  as  they  again  became  restless 
under  certain  commercial  restraints  and  the  influence 
of  the  French  revolution,  the  British  government 
increased  its  severity,  suspended  the  habeas  corpus, 
dispersed  meetings  of  the  people  with  military  and 
police  forces,  and  quartered  troops  upon  the  inhab 
itants.  The  Catholic  Irish  formed  secret  societies, 
and  invoked  the  aid  of  France,  which  furnished  only 
assistance  enough  to  encourage  another  outbreak  — 
the  rebellion  of  1798.  It  was  suppressed  by  Lord 
Cornwallis,  —  the  one  who  surrendered  his  army  at 
Yorktown,  —  lord  lieutenant  of  Ireland,  by  the  em 
ployment  of  conciliatory  measures.  In  1801  a  more 
complete  political  union  was  effected  between  Ireland 
and  her  oppressor  ;  but  the  rights  of  the  people  were 
not  recognized  in  the  compact,  and  they  were  far  from 
satisfied.  In  1803  another  outbreak  occurred  at  Dub 
lin,  under  the  leadership  of  Robert  Emmet,  an  enthu 
siastic  young  man,  who,  at  the  suppression  of  the 
rebellion,  perished  on  the  scaffold ;  but  his  name  and 
memory  are  still  affectionately  cherished  by  the  Irish 
people. 

"  Catholic  emancipation,  which  meant  equality  of 
rights  to  both  the  prevailing  sects,  was  the  great  ques 
tion  agitated  by  the  Irish  for  many  years.  Daniel 
O'Connell  was  the  leading  spirit  in  these  agitations  ; 
and  in  1829  an  act  embodying  Catholic  emancipation 
received  the  assent  of  the  crown.  The  two  sects  were 
3 


26  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

now  equal  before  the  law ;  but  O'Connell  and  others 
continued  to  labor  for  the  independence  of  the  coun 
try,  which,  in  spite  of  many  rights  and  privileges 
granted  to  the  people,  was  still  grievously  oppressed. 

"  Only  one  tenth  of  the  population  of  Ireland  be 
longed  to  the  established  church  ;  yet  tithes,  or  taxes 
for  its  support,  were  levied  upon  all  alike.  In  our 
land  this  iniquitous  law  would  breed  a  revolution 
in  twenty-four  hours ;  and  we  need  not  wonder  that 
the  Irish  have  been  impatient,  especially  when  this 
was  only  one  of  their  grievances.  In  1838  the  man 
ner  of  collecting  tithes  was  modified,  a  fixed  sum 
being  levied  upon  the  landholders ;  but,  of  course,  it 
was  ultimately  paid  by  the  tenants,  and  the  tithes 
were  concealed  rather  than  removed. 

"  The  separation  of  the  two  countries,  as  the  only 
means  of  obtaining  justice,  has  been  the  object  of  the 
Irish  leaders;  and  in  1846  a  new  party,  called  the 
Irish  Confederation,  was  formed  ;  and  in  1848,  under 
the  stimulus  of  the  events  in  France  which  resulted 
in  the  flight  of  Louis  Philippe,  a  revolt  was  attempted  ; 
but  it  was  a  signal  failure.  Several  of  the  leaders 
•were  arrested,  and  some  of  them  were  sentenced  to 
death  for  treason  ;  but  the  penalty  was  commuted  to 
transportation.  Most  of  them  were  subsequently  par 
doned.  Thomas  F.  Meagher,  one  of  them,  went  to  the 
United  States,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  Union 
army.  John  Mitchell,  who  fled  from  the  storm  in 
his  own  country,  was  unworthy  of  the  cause  in  which 
he^had  been  engaged.  In  conclusion,  young  gentle 
men,  Ireland  has  always  been  an  oppressed  land. 
Her  history  is  a  continuous  storm  of  battle  and 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.       2j 

insurrection.  Though  her  condition  has  been  greatly 
improved,  her  people  are  still  deprived  of  '  equal 
rights.' 

"  I  have  taken  this  early  opportunity  to  give  you  a 
very  meagre  outline  of  the  geography  and  history  of 
Ireland,  that  you  may  view  with  more  interest  and 
pleasure  the  historic  spots  you  may  visit." 

The  professor  retired ;  the  boys  were  dismissed, 
and  hastened  on  deck,  to  gaze  at  the  shores  of  the 
country  whose  history  had  just  been  related  to  them. 


28  SHAMROCK  AND   THISTLE,   OR 


CHAPTER  II. 

QUEENSTOWN   TO   CORK. 

CLEAR  away  the  professors'  barge,"  said  the  of 
ficer  of  the  deck,  shortly  after  Mr.  Mapps  had 
finished  his  lecture. 

The  boat  was  lowered  into  the  water,  the  crew 
piped  over  the  side,  and  the  third  master  detailed  to 
take  charge  of  it.  The  officer  and  crew  were  re 
garded  as  very  fortunate  in  having  an  opportunity 
even  to  go  as  far  as  the  shore,  for  all  were  burn 
ing  with  impatience  to  see  something  more  of  the 
Green  Isle. 

Paul  Kendall  came  out  of  the  cabin  dressed  in  full 
uniform,  with  the  anchor  and  three  stars  on  his 
shoulder-straps,  and  the  three  gold  bands  on  his 
sleeves.  He  had  put  on  a  new  suit  for  the  occa 
sion,  and  being  a  well-formed  young  man,  and 
graceful  in  his  movements,  he  was  not  likely  to 
bring  any  discredit  upon  American  boys  by  his  per 
sonal  appearance.  Dr.  Winstock  went  down  the 
accommodation  ladder,  followed  by  Paul,  who  was 
just  then  the  envy  of  every  student  in  the  ship.  The 
crew  sat  with  their  oars  up,  and  when  the  passengers 
were  seated  in  the  stern  sheets,  they  "  let  fall,"  and 
fc'  gave  way,"  at  the  orders  of  the  coxswain. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    29 

"This  is  a  beautiful  harbor,  Dr.  Winstock,"  said 
Paul,  gazing  at  the  surrounding  shores. 

"It  is  one  of  the  best  harbors  in  the  world," 
replied  the  doctor ;  "  it  is  large  enough  to  shelter  the 
whole  British  navy.  You  see  it  is  fortified  in  every 
direction ;  for  if  an  enemy  gained  a  foothold  here, 
they  could  inflict  immense  damage  upon  the  commerce 
and  the  power  of  England.  The  land  on  the  port 
side  is  Spike  Island ;  the  buildings  belong  to  the 
convict  depot,  and  will  accommodate  two  thousand 
men,  who  are  employed  in  digging  and  building  for 
fortifications,  and  on  other  work.  The  next  is  Rocky 
Island,  which  contains  a  powder  magazine,  occupying 
six  chambers  dug  out  of  the  solid  rock.  The  third 
island  is  Hawlbowline,  and  the  buildings  upon  it  are 
storehouses  for  cannon  and  small  arms." 

"  You  have  been  here  before,  doctor,"  said  Paul. 

"Yes  —  a  few  years  ago." 

"What  odd  little  steamers  these  are!"  added  the 
young  officer,  as  one  of  them  started  from  the 
wharf  before  them. 

"  They  are  certainly  different  from  ours ;  but  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  use.  one  of  them  in  going  up 
'to  Cork,  and  you  will  have  an  opportunity  to  examine 
the  structure  more  closely." 

As  the  boat  approached  the  landing  steps,  a  crowd 
of  people  began  to  gather  on  the  pier  to  witness  the 
arrival  of  the  boat,  for  the  pilot  had  probably  already 
proclaimed  the  character  of  the  Young  America  to 
the  people.  The  professors'  barge  went  up  to  the 
wharf  in  man-of-war  style,  and  landed  her  passengers. 
A  couple  of  the  oarsmen  carried  the  valise  and  bag 
3* 


3O  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

belonging  to  them  up  the  steps.  As  they  did  so,  about 
two  dozen  porters,  each  with  a  large  metallic  badge, 
on  which  was  his  number,  strapped  around  his  left 
arm,  between  the  shoulder  and  the  elbow,  rushed 
forward,  and  seized  the  baggage  —  we  should  say 
"  luggage,"  for  the  American  word  is  not  used  in 
the  United  Kingdom. 

"Long  life  to  your  ahnor"  (honor),  gasped  one 
of  them,  in  the  midst  of  his  struggles  to  obtain  the 
coveted  prize;  "ye  gave  it  me — number  twinty-wan." 

"  I  didn't  give  it  to  any  of  you  yet,"  said  Dr.  Win- 
stock. 

"  Number  siventeen,  your  ahnor,"  shouted  another. 

"  Whisht  now  !  go  way  wid  ye,  you  blackguards  !  " 
said  a  man  dressed  in  blue,  his  head  covered  by  a 
black  hat  trimmed  with  patent  leather,  who  was 
evidently  a  policeman. 

The  officer  cleared  a  place  around  the  strangers, 
and  Dr.  Winstock  inquired  of  him  at  what  hour  the 
next  steamer  left  for  Cork. 

"  Indade,  sir,  you  are  too  late  for  the  boat  that  goes 
up  to  Patrick's  bridge,  but  ye  can  take  the  railroad 
boat  in  about  an  hour." 

"  I  think  we  had  better  take  some  supper  here 
then,  Paul,"  added  the  doctor. 

"  As  you  think  best,  sir." 

"  Number  nineteen,"  continued  Dr.  Winstock, 
selecting  one  of  the  porters  who  had  been  less  for 
ward  than  the  others,  "  you  can  take  the  luggage  to 
the  Queen's  Hotel." 

"  Thank  your  ahnor,"  replied  the  grateful  fellow. 

"  Ye  gave  it  to  me,  sir,"  growled  number  seventeen. 


YOUNS   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    3! 

"  Indacle,  thin,  ye  gave  it  to  me,"  interposed  number 
twenty-one. 

"  I  gave  it  to  none  of  you.  Number  nineteen  has 
it  now." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  your  honor,"  said  another 
man,  in  uniform,  as  he  touched  his  hat  to  the  doctor. 
"  The  custom-house  officer,  sir." 

"  You  wish  to  examine  the  luggage." 

"  If  ye  plase,  your  honor.     Give  me  the  kay." 

"  Here  is  the  key,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock,  slipping 
a  shilling  into  his  hand. 

"  Thank  your  honor,"  replied  the  man,  slyly. 

The  doctor  unlocked  the  valise. 

"Just  rise  the  lid.  That'll  do,  sir,"  replied  the 
officer  of  her  majesty's  customs,  as  he  closed  the  valise. 

A  half  crown,  or  even  a  shilling,  to  the  custom-house 
officer  at  Queenstown,  if  not  expected,  is  gratefully 
received,  and  may  save  the  traveller  much  annoy 
ance  ;  it  is  quite  probable  that  some  small  parcels 
and  "  pirated  books "  escape  confiscation  by  the 
process. 

The  porter,  with  the  assistance  of  the  policeman, 
obtained  possession  of  the  valise  and  bag,  and  the 
strangers  followed  him  towards  the  hotel,  which  was 
situated  but  a  short  distance  from  the  quay. 

"  God  bless  your  honor !  "  said  a  ragged  woman, 
stepping  up  to  the  travellers,  with  a  low  courtesy ; 
"  I'm  a  poor  crayter,  wid  siven  shmall  childer,  and  1 
haven't  a  bit  t'  ate  for  thim." 

"  Go  way  wid  yous,  and  don't  be  bodthering  the 
gintlemin,"  interposed  the  porter. 

"  Would  your  honor  joost  give  me  the  shmallest 


32  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

bit  of  silver  you  have  in  your  pocket?"  persisted  the 
beggar. 

".I  have  no  small  change,"  replied  the  doctor. 

"  A  pinny  to  buy  bread,  your  honor,"  said  a  dirty 
boy  on  the  other  side. 

"  A  pinny,  or  a  ha'pinny  for  me  fadther,  who  got 
sick,  and  didn't  do  a  shtroke  o'  work  for  two  moonths," 
pleaded  another  boy  in  tattered  garments. 

"  One  pinny,  only  a  pinny  for  me,"  chimed  in  a  girl. 

"  Paul,  we  shall  have  the  whole  town  upon  us,  at 
this  rate,"  laughed  the  doctor. 

"  I  have  a  couple  of  sixpences,"  whispered  Paul ; 
"shall  I  give  them  to  them?" 

"  No  !  That  would  be  madness.  You  would  sow 
to  the  wind  and  reap  the  whirlwind.  They  would 
persecute  us  to  the  death  if  you  gave  them  a  penny." 

The  beggars,  reenforced  by  others,  persisted  in 
their  demands,  and  the  only  safety  of  the  travellers 
was  in  immediate  flight.  They  pushed  forward, 
heedless  of  the  din  of  women  and  children  who  sued 
for  pennies,  and  "  shmall  bits  of  silver,"  until  they 
reached  Queen's  Hotel,  into  which  the  beggars  dared 
not  follow  them.  The  porter  was  paid  and  dis 
charged,  and  the  visitors  entered  the  coffee-room ; 
for,  unlike  American  hotels,  those  of  the  United 
Kingdom  seldom  contain  public  parlors,  reading- 
rooms,  or  any  similar  apartment,  for  general  use. 

The  coffee-room,  in  first-class  hotels,  is  usually  an 
elegant  apartment,  with  carpeted  floor  and  draperied 
windows.  It  is  commonly  furnished  with  small  tables 
for  little  parties  or  single  individuals.  In  some  of 
the  larger  provincial  towns  there  are  commercial 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    33 

rooms,  for  the  exclusive  use  of  "  commercial  travel 
lers,"  who  are  agents  or  "  runners "  for  mercantile 
establishments  in  the  large  cities. 

Dr.  Winstock  and  Paul  entered  the  coffee-room  of 
the  Queen's.  It  was  about  five  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and  a  few  of  the  tables  wrere  occupied  by 
parties  at  dinner.  They  seated  themselves,  and 
began  to  examine  the  newspapers  with  which  the 
room  was  supplied. 

"What  will  you  please  to  order?" 

The  question  was  addressed  to  Paul,  who  was 
just  then  absorbed  in  the  "  latest  from  America." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  sir.  Did  you  speak  to  me?" 
replied  Paul,  glancing  at  the  person  who  addressed 
him. 

He  was  clothed  in  black  pants  and  black  di'ess 
coat,  with  a  white  cravat. 

"What  will  you  please  to  order?"  repeated  the 
individual  in  black. 

"  Order?  "  asked  Paul,  confused  by  the  question. 

"  He  is  the  waiter,"  said  Dr.  Winstock,  laughing. 

"  The  waiter !  I  thought  he  must  be  a  doctor  of 
divinity,"  replied  Paul,  measuring  the  servant  from 
head  to  foot  with  his  eye. 

"  I  shall  have  a  mutton  chop,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  I  will  have  the  same,"  added  Paul,  turning  to  his 
paper  again. 

In  due  time  the  mutton  chops  appeared,  and  called 
forth  the  unqualified  approbation  of  the  travellers. 
They  were  rich,  tender,  and  delicate ;  far  superior 
to  American  mutton. 

"  These  come  of  the  rich   grass  of  Ireland,"  said 


34  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

the  doctor ;  "  though  there  is  something  in  the  breed 
of  sheep.  When  I  was  in  Ireland  before,  I  lived  on 
mutton,  which  is  extra  nice  throughout  the  United 
Kingdom." 

"  How  is  it  about  the  roast  beef  of  old  England?" 
asked  Paul. 

"  The  beef  isn't  any  better  than  ours,  Paul.  I  have 
eaten  poorer  beef  in  England  than  I  ever  did  in 
America,  while  the  best  I  have  seen  there  does  not 
surpass  our  own.  I  don't  think  you  will  like  the 
style  of  living  in  this  part  of  the  world  as  well  as 
that  at  home." 

"  I  don't  know ;  I  think  I  shall  get  along  very 
well,"  laughed  Paul,  as  he  buttered  a  slice  of  bread, 
and  tasted  it.  . 

It  did  not  suit  him,  and  he  added  more  butter  from 
one  of  the  little  "pats"  before  him. 

"  What  sort  of  butter  do  you  call  this?  "  demanded 
he,  as  he  tried  it  again. 

"  Irish  butter,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock,  laughing. 

"  There  is  no  taste  to  it." 

"  Yet  it  is  nice,  fresh  butter." 

"  I  don't  think  so  ;  it  tastes  more  like  tallow,  than 
butter." 

"  There  is  no  salt  in  it,  Paul ;  that  is  all.  I  assure 
you  no  better  butter  ever  was  made ;  but  you  have 
stumbled  upon  a  custom  which  does  not  conform  to 
your  experience.  In  England,  Ireland,  and  Scotland, 
as  well  as  on  the  continent,  they  put  little  or  no  salt 
in  the  butter.  You  can  either  get  used  to  it,  or  sup 
ply  the  deficiency ;  there  is  salt  on  the  table." 

Paul  sypplied  the  deficiency,  and  the  supper  wa« 


YOUNG   AMERICA  IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    35 

finished  to  the  satisfaction  of  both.  The  waiter 
brought  the  bill  when  requested  to  do  so.  It 
amounted  to  five  shillings ;  and  when  he  brought 
the  change  for  a  sovereign,  he  contrived  to  have 
some  small  coin  included.  He  handed  it  to  the 
doctor  piece  by  piece,  the  sixpences  last.  He  looked 
so  wistful  that  it  was  impossible  for  an  American  to 
refuse  his  unuttered  petition,  and  he  was  permitted 
to  retain  the  last  sixpence  ;  whereat  he  seemed  to  be 
very  grateful.  The  young  officer  was  rather  surprised 
to  see  the  man  whom  he  had  mistaken  for  a  doctor 
of  divinity  stoop  to  a  sixpence  ;  but  he  was  destined 
to  see  bigger  men  than  waiters  "  cotton "  to  small 
coins. 

The  coinage  of  the  United  Kingdom  in  common 
use  is  in  gold,  silver,  and  copper.  The  gold  coins 
are  the  sovereign  and  half  sovereign.  The  silver 
coins  are  the  crown  (five  shillings),  the  half  crown 
(two  and  sixpence),  the  florin,  or  two-shilling  piece,  the 
shilling,  the  sixpence,  and  the  threepence.  The  cop 
per  coins  are  the  penny  and  the  half  penny.  The 
two-penny  copper  coin  is  now  rarely  seen. 

The  paper  money  consists  principally  of  the  notes 
issued  by  the  Bank  of  England.  The  smallest  bill 
is  for  five  pounds.  The  notes  are  about  three  times 
the  size  of  an  American  bank  bill,  are  printed  on 
white  paper,  made  exclusively  for  the  purpose,  and 
are  never  issued  a  second  time. 

"  Now,  Paul,  we  have  a  few  minutes  to  spare,  and 
if  we  are  not  overwhelmed  by  the  beggars,  we  will 
take  a  little  walk,"  said  Dr.  Winstock,  when  he  had 
paid  the  bill. 


36  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  The  beggars  are  a  nuisance,"  replied  Paul. 

"  We  shall  be  troubled  with  them  in  all  the  south 
ern  part  of  Ireland  ;  after  that  we  shall  see  but  few 
of  them  till  we  reach  Italy,  which  is  the  paradise  of 
beggars." 

There  was  nothing  of  special  interest  to  be  seen  in 
the  town.  This  part  of  the  island  is  a  favorite  resort 
for  invalids,  on  account  of  the  mildness  and  salubrity 
of  the  climate.  The  American  steamers  land  their 
mails  here,  and  such  passengers  as  wish  to  make  the 
tour  of  Ireland,  or  to  reach  Liverpool  in  advance  of 
the  ship.  A  small  tug  usually  meets  the  steamer  off 
Roches  Point,  and  takes  the  mail  and  passengers 
ashore.  It  requires  about  twenty-four  hours  for  the 
steamship  to  run  from  Queenstown  to  Liverpool, 
while  the  trip  is  made  by  railway  and  steamer,  by  the 
way  of  Dublin  and  Holyhead,  in  about  ten  or  eleven 
hours. 

The  Cunard  steamers  leave  Liverpool  on  Saturday. 
If  one  sailed  at  ten  in  the  forenoon,  a  passenger  could 
start  from  London  at  five  in  the  afternoon  by  the  ex 
press  mail  train  and  overtake  the  ship  at  Queenstown, 
thus  gaining  eight  hours,  and  avoid  the  rough  sea  of 
the  channel. 

Paul  was  rather  surprised  to  find  the  streets  and 
houses  so  much  like  those  he  had  seen  in  America. 
There  was  hardly  anything  to  remind  him  that  he 
was  in  a  foreign  land,  unless  it  was  the  beggars,  who 
swarmed  in  the  streets,  and  beset  all  persons  that 
looked  like  strangers,  and  especially  like  Americans, 
for  they  have  the  reputation  of  being  liberal  donors. 
There  was  little  to  see,  and  but  little  time  to  see  it, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     37 

and  the  travellers  hastened  back  to  the  hotel  for  theif 
luggage. 

"  Paul,  do  you  remember  the  lines,  on  the  burial  of 
Sir  John  Moore?"  asked  the  doctor,  on  their  return. 
"  I  do. 

'  Not  a  drum  was  heard,  not  a  funeral  note, 
As  his  corse  to  the  rampart  we  hurried.' " 

"  Do  you  know  who  wrote  the  poem?" 

"  I  don't  remember." 

"  It  was  the  Rev.  Charles  Wolfe.  He  died  at  this 
place,  in  1823,  of  consumption,  and  was  buried  here." 

At  the  hotel,  a  little  fellow,  who  acted  as  a  porter 
and  runner,  offered  to  carry  the  valise  and  bag  to  the 
railroad  boat.  He  was  an  odd  youth,  and  one  could 
not  tell  whether  he  was  twelve  or  twenty.  He  was 
dressed  in  faded  livery,  and  looked  a  little  like  the 
monkey  in  the  circus.  He  shouldered  the  "  bit  of  a 
box/'  —  a  trunk  is  a  box  in  Ireland,  —  and  led  the 
way  to  the  pier.  He  was  full  of  mother  wit,  and 
amused  the  doctor  so  much  that  he  gave  him  a  shil 
ling  for  his  services. 

The  little  steamer  in  which  the  travellers  embarked 
for  Passage,  where  they  were  to  take  the  train  for 
Cork,  was  as  unlike  the  ordinary  American  steamer 
as  anything  could  be.  She  was  a  side-wheeler,  very 
long  for  her  width,  or  very  narrow  for  her  length,  as 
the  reader  pleases.  There  was  no  saloon  on  the  deck, 
which  had  seats  around  it  for  the  accommodation  of 
passengers.  The  pilot  stood  on  a  raised  platform  at 
the  stern,  there  being  no  wheel-house  near  the  bow, 
as  in  our  steamers.  There  was  a  small  cabin  aft,  into 
which  people  might  retreat  in  case  of  rain.  But  the 
4 


38  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

little  thing  made  good  time,  and  for  a  short  trip  was 
comfortable  enough. 

The  scenery  on  the  shores  of  the  River  Lee,  below 
Cork,  is  very  attractive.  The  slope  of  Great  Island, 
on  which  Queenstown  is  located,  is  covered  with  beau 
tiful  villas  and  other  country  residences.  On  the  other 
side  of  the  river  the  country  is  more  irregular,  with 
occasional  exhibitions  of  rock,  and  picturesque  steeps. 
The  whole  region  is  improved  ;  there  are  no  waste 
places ;  and  the  traveller  obtains  his  first  ideas  of  the 
dwellings  of  the  wealthy  class  from  the  elegant  man 
sions  seen  on  the  banks  of  the  river. 

"  We  are  approaching  Passage,"  said  Dr.  Winstock, 
as  he  pointed  to  the  landing-pier.  "  It  is  somewhat 
noted  as  a  watering-place  ;  but  in  my  mind  it  is  asso 
ciated  only  with  Francis  Mahony's  Irish  poem.  Do 
you  know  it,  Paul  ?  " 

"  I  never  heard  of  it,  sir." 

"  You  will  find  it  in  Dana's  House  Book  of  Poetry, 
a  copy  of  which  is  in  the  main  cabin  library  of  the 
ship.  I  remember  a  verse  or  two  of  it,  for  it  is  so 
mellirluously  Irish,  that  I  could  hardly  forget  it. 

'  The  town  of  Passage 
Is  both  large  and  spacious, 
And  situated 

Upon  the  say ; 
"Pis  nate  and  dacent, 
And  quite  adjacent 
To  come  from  Cork 

On  a  summer's  day. 

There  you  may  slip  in, 
And  take  a  dip  in 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     39 

Forenent  the  shipping 

That  at  anchor  ride ; 
Or  in  a  wherry, 
Cross  o'er  the  ferry, 
To  Carrigaloe, 

On  the  other  side. 

Mud  cabins  swarm  in 
This  place  so  charming, 
With  sailors'  garments 
Hung  out  to  dry ;  '  — 

And  that's  all  I  remember  of  it.  These  poems,  I 
think,  add  an  interest  to  the  places  they  relate  to." 

"  They  do,  sir  ;  and  I  shall  certainly  read  that 
poem,  when  I  return  to  the.  ship." 

"  You  will  find  other  Irish  poems  in  the  same  vol 
ume." 

The  steamer  hauled  up  at  the  pier ;  the  travellers 
landed,  and  entered  the  railroad  station.  A  porter 
took  the  valise,  and  placed  it  in  the  "  van,"  which  is 
the  name  applied  to  a  baggage  car.  The  fare  from 
Queenstown  to  Cork  was  one  shilling,  first  class.  In 
Europe  the  railway  carriages  are  divided  into  com 
partments,  which  are  entered  at  the  sides.  Each 
division  has  seats  for  six  or  eight  passengers,  one  half 
of  whom  sit  facing  the  other  half;  those  taking  for 
ward  seats  riding  backwards. 

Travellers  are  divided  into  three,  and  sometimes 
four,  classes,  depending  upon  the  prices  they  pay. 
The  different  classes  of  fare  from  Edinburgh  to  Lon 
don,  for  example,  are  as  follows  :  — 

First  class, £3   105. 

Second  class,      ....     £2   us. 
Third  class, J£l  35. 


4<D  SHAMROCK    AXD    THISTLE,    OR 

First  class  passengers  are  always  provided  with  cush 
ioned  seats,  stuffed  arms  and  backs.  In'  Ireland  the 
only  difference  we  noticed  between  second  and  third 
class  accommodations  was,  that  the  seats  were  hol 
lowed  out  a  little  like  a  kitchen  chair  in  the  former, 
while  they  were  entirely  flat  in  the  latter ;  but  in 
most  parts  of  Europe  second  class  compartments  have 
seats  with  a  leather  cushion  ;  in  Germany  and  Swit 
zerland  they  are  about  equal  to  our  cars,  but  not  in  the 
United  Kingdom. 

The  two  vacant  seats  which  Dr.  Winstock  found  in 
the  compartment  were  at  the  opposite  ends,  and  they 
were  separated  for  the  time.  The  young  officer  was 
absorbed  in  viewing  the  country  through  which  the 
train  passed.  He  wished 'to  ask  some  questions  of  the 
dignified  gentleman  who  sat  opposite  to  him  ;  but  he 
had  learned  to  believe  that  the  people  with  whom  he 
was  now  brought  into  contact  were  haughty  and  re 
served,  and  that  he  could  not  expect  a  civil  answer 
from  them.  After  proceeding  a  short  distance,  the 
train  stopped. 

"  Is  this  Cork,  sir?"  asked  Paul,  forgetting  lor  the 
instant  his  prejudices. 

"  No,  sir ;  this  is  Blackrock.  The  next  stopping- 
place  will  be  Cork,"  replied  the  gentleman  to  whom 
the  question  had  been  addressed,  in  the  kindest  and 
blandest  of  tones. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  added  Paul,  astonished  at  the 
suavity  of  the  native. 

"  You  are  a  stranger,  young  gentleman,"  continued 
the  person. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  belong  to  the  Academy  Ship,  which 
arrived  to-day." 


YOUXG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     41 

"  Ah,  indeed  !  " 

The  gentleman  wished  to  know  something  about 
the  ship,  and  in  return  pointed  out  the  objects  of  in 
terest  which  could  be  seen  from  the  window. . 

"  This  is  Cork,"  added  the  native,  as  the  train 
stopped.  "  Can  I  be  of  any  service  to  you?  " 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you,  sir ;  but  the  gentleman  with 
me  has  been  here  before,"  replied  Paul,  as  they  got 
out  of  the  carriage.  It  is  never  called  a  car  on  the 
other  side  of  the  ocean. 

"  Now,  Paul,  you  will  have  a  chance  to  try  a  side 
car,  which  is  peculiarly  an  Irish  institution.  I  never 
saw  one  anywhere  except  in  this  country." 

A  vehicle  was  enguged,  and  Paul  realized  that  it 
was  a  queer  establishment.  There  are  seats  for  four 
passengers,  who  sit  sidewise,  facing  out.  Hanging 
over  the  two  wheels  are  foot-boards,  in  front  of  the 
seats.  The  driver's  box  is  on  the  forward  part,  but 
he  does  not  sit  there  when  he  has  but  one  passen 
ger,  occupying  instead  one  of  the  side-seats.  The 
vehicle  has  no  top.  Between  the  seats  and  behind 
the  four  passengers  is  a  space  for  small  pieces  of 
luggage. 

u  Imperial  Hotel,"  said  Dr.Winstock,  as  he  mounted 
the  car  with  Paul. 

"  Impayrial  Hotel,  your  honor,"  replied  the  carman, 
as  he  drove  off,  yelling  at  his  horse  like  a  wild  Indian. 
"  Does  your  honor  shtop  long  in  Cork?" 

"  Only  till  to-morrow." 

"  I'd  like  to  dhrive  your  honor  out  to  Blarney  Castle 
in  the  marhning." 

"  I  shall  not  be  able  to  go.     What  street  is  this?" 
4* 


(f3  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  This  is  Albert  Quay,  your  honor,  and  it's  now 
we're  comin'  to  Anglesea  Bridge." 

"  Is  this  the  River  Lee?"  asked  Paul. 

"  No ;  this  is  the  Sout'  Branch ;  beyant  you  see 
the  Lee,"  replied  the  driver,  pointing  down  the  stream 
to  the  junction  of  the  two  branches,  a  short  distance 
below. 

The  principal  part  of  Cork  lies  between  these  two 
branches,  on  an  island. 

"  This  is  Sout*  Mall,  your  honor,  and  beyant  is  the 
bank,"  added  the  talkative  driver. 

"  You  must  not  expect  much  of  Cork,  Paul,"  said 
the  doctor.  "  St.  Patrick's  Church  is  the  only  build^ 
ing  of  any  note." 

"  I  don't  care  so  much  about  the  buildings  as  I  do 
to  see  how  the  people  live,"  replied  Paul. 

"  You  will  not  see  much  of  them  at  the  hotels." 

"  I  have  a  commission  to  execute  for  the  Irish  girl 
who  has  lived  in  our  family  since  I  was  a  child.  She 
was  astonished  when  I  told  her  I  was  going  to  Ireland, 
and  I  promised  to  call  upon  her  brother-in-law." 

"  Do  you  know  his  address?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  No.  88  Patrick  Street.  He  is  a  porter 
in  an  apothecary  shop." 

"  Impayrial  Hotel,  your  honor,"  said  the  driver,  as 
he  drew  up  in  a  narrow  street  before  a  plain  edifice. 

"How  much  is  your  fare?"  demanded  Dr.  Win- 
stock. 

"  Anything  your  honor  plazes,"  replied  the  carman, 
touching  his  hat,  and  looking  particularly  amiable. 

"  How  much  is  the  fare?     What  is  your  price?" 

"  Whatever  ye  plaze,  your  honor." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     43 

"  Name  your  price." 

"  Two  shillings,"  replied  the  driver,  in  a  low  tone. 

The  doctor  gave  him  his  price,  which  was  four  times 
as  much  as  he  was  entitled  to  receive. 

"  Thank  your  honor.  If  yous  want  a  nice  car,  wid 
a  fine  harse,  I'll  call  for  your  honor  in  the  evening." 

They  entered  the  hotel,  escorted  by  a  porter  in 
livery. 

"  What  should  I  have  paid  that  driver?"  asked  the 
doctor. 

"  Sixpence,  sir,  for  the  two." 

The  surgeon  laughed,  and  so  did  Paul,  at  the  deceit 
which  was  put  upon  them  ;  but  the  fellow  lost  several 
good  jobs  by  the  swindle. 


44  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 


CHAPTER  III. 

BLARNEY    CASTLE. 

AFTER  the  rooms  had  been  secured  at  the  hotel, 
Dr.  Winstock  took  a  car  to  call  upon  a  gentle 
man  whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  during  his 
former  visit,  leaving  Paul  at  liberty  to  walk  about  the 
city. 

"Where  is  Patrick  Street,  srr?"  asked  Paul  of  a 
man  who  was  standing  on  the  sidewalk  near  the  hotel. 

"  I'll  show  you,  sur,"  replied  the  person  addressed, 
leading  the  way  through  Pembroke  Street. 

Paul  thought  the  man  was  even  more  obliging  than 
he  had  found  the  people  in  the  streets  of  New  York 
and  Boston,  and  he  walked  by  the  stranger's  side  with 
a  feeling  of  gratitude  and  admiration  towards  his 
guide.  "  This  is  Patrick  Street,  sur,"  said  the  man, 
after  they  had  gone  through  Winthrop  Street, -as  he 
touched  his  hat. 

"  Thank  you  ;  I  tim  greatly  obliged  to  you,"  replied 
Paul. 

"  Patrick  Street,  sur  ;  I'd  showed  you  the  way,  do 
ye  mind?"  added  the  guide,  touching  his  hat  again. 

"  I  know  you  did,  and  I'm  very  much  obliged  to 
you." 

"  Don't  break  your  hand,  sir,"  said  the  man,  evi- 


\OUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     45 

ilcntly  dissatisfied  with  the  simple  thanks  of  the  young 
officer. 

u  Don't  break  my  hand  !  "  exclaimed  Paul,  puzzled 
by  the  phrase.  u  I  don't  think  I'm  in  any  danger  of 
breaking  it." 

"  Faix,  ye  are  not,  sur,  for  the  weight  of  a  three 
pence  would  break  it." 

Paul  took  a  sixpence  from  his  pocket,  the  smallest 
coin  he  had,  and  gave  it  to  the  man. 

"  Thank  your  honor,"  replied  the  guide,  his  face 
suddenly  brightening  up  as  he  glanced  at  the  coin  in 
his  hand.  "  Long  life  to  your  honor  ;  and  if  you  want 
e'er  a  b'y  to  show  you  any  place,  I'm  idle  just  now, 
and  I'll  do  me  besht  for  your  honor." 

Paul"  did  not  think  he  should  be  likely  to  need  his 
services,  for  he  was  quite  disgusted  with  the  servil 
ity  of  the  man.  His  gratitude  and  admiration  were 
changed  into  contempt ;  but  before  he  had  been  in 
Ireland  three  days,  he  could  not  help  thinking  that 
every  person  he  me't  was  studying  out  a  plan  to  get  a 
sixpence  out  of  him. 

The  young  officer  wralked  down  St.  Patrick  Street, 
looking  at  the  people,  and  gazing  in  at  the  shop  win 
dows.  To  him  the  appearance  of  the  city  of  Cork 
was  disagreeably  similar  to  that  of  Boston  and  New 
York.  There  was  nothing  of  interest  to  be  seen  ;  but 
presently  he  became  painfully  conscious  that  he  was 
himself  an  object  of  interest,  especially  to  the  dirty 
boys  and  girls  whom  he  met. 

"  Do  ye  mind  the  young  shwell  beyant?"  said  a  ju 
venile  "Greek"  to  his  companions. 

The  remark  reminded  Paul  that  he  was  in  full  uni- 


46  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

form  ;  and  being  a  modest  youth,  he  wished  his  dress 
consisted  only  of  plain  clothes.  Other  annoying  ex 
pressions  came  to  his  ears,  but  he  paid  no  attention  to 
them,  and  seemed  not  to  hear  them. 

St.  Patrick  Street  is  the  principal  one  in  Cork,  and 
extends  in  the  form  of  a  crescent  from  the  bridge,  with 
the  same  revered  name,  to  Grand  Parade,  which  is 
also  a  street  of  great  pretensions,  adorned  with  an 
equestrian  statue  of  George  II.  Both  these  streets 
are  wide  and  imposing,  but  the  buildings  are  of  all 
styles  and  heights,  and  with  no  claims  to  architectural 
beauty. 

Paul  found  the  brother-in-law  of  the  faithful  domes 
tic  in  his  father's  family,  and  was  warmly  greeted. 
The  man  was  glad  to  see  one  "  who  had  come  all  the 
way  from  America,"  and  Paul  gave  him  half  a  sov 
ereign,  as  he  had  been  requested  to  do  by  Hannah. 

"  How  did  ye  come  to  Ireland,  Mr.  Kendall?"  asked 
Michael  Shea,  the  brother-in-law. 

"  I  came  in  the  Academy  Ship." 

"  Is  it  possible  !     How  is  my  sister?  " 

"  She  was  quite  well  when  I  saw  her  last." 

"  Is  it  possible !  Do  you  stop  long  in  Cork,  Mr. 
Kendall?" 

"  I  shall  return  to  the  ship  to-morrow.  All  the 
officers  and  crew  are  to  visit  Blarney  and  Killarney, 
and  I  shall  be  up  again  soon." 

"  Is  it  possible !  Now,  Mr.  Kendall,  I'd  like  to 
have  you  go  out  to  my  little  place  with  me  and  see 
my  woman." 

"  I  should  like  to  go  very  much,"  replied  Paul,  who 
desired  to  visit  the  houses  of  some  of  the  common 
people. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    47 

"  Thin  I'll  go  wicl  you  to-morrow  morning.  Where 
are  you  stopping?" 

"  At  the  Imperial  Hotel." 

"  Is  it  possible  !  I  will  come  for  you  at  tin  minutes 
before  eight." 

"  Very  well ;  I  will  be  ready." 

"  Indade,  thin,  Mr.  Kendall,  you  are  a  fine-looking 
young  man.  It's  a  fine  dress  you  wear." 

"  It  is  the  uniform  of  the  Young  America.  I  am 
second  lieutenant  of  the  ship." 

"  Is  it  possible  !  " 

"  Both  possible  and  probable,"  laughed  Paul,  as  he 
took  his  leave,  and  hastened  back  to  the  hotel. 

He  felt  that  he  had  nearly  exhausted  Cork,  even  in 
his  short  walk  ;  but  early  in  the  morning  he  visited 
the  market  with  Dr.  Winstock.  The  display  of  meats 
and  vegetables  was  similar  to  what  would  be  seen  in 
an  American  city.  Punctually  at  the  appointed  time 
Michael  Shea  appeared  at  the  hotel,  and  just  as  the 
travellers  finished  their  breakfast.  A  car  was  called, 
in  which  they  were  driven  to  Blarney  Row.  This 
part  of  the  city  was  certainly  very  unlike  anything 
Paul  had  seen  in  America,  for  it  was  occupied  by  the 
poorer  classes  of  the  city.  The  houses  were  gener 
ally  of  stone,  whitewashed,  with  very  few  windows. 
That  in  which  Michael  Shea  lived  was  one  story  high, 
with  attic  chambers.  Being  a  porter  in  a  store,  he  had 
good  wages,  compared  with  the  common  laborers, — 
who  received  from  five  to  eight  shillings  a  week,  from 
f.  cellar  and  a  quarter  to  two  dollars,  —  and  therefore 
occupied  a  better  dwelling  than  the  poorest  classes. 

Paul  was  ushered  into  the  house,  and  duly  presented 


4$  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

to  the  "  woman,"  in  the  principal  room.  Perhaps  the 
visitor  was  more  interested  in  the  apartment  than  in 
the  persons,  and  while  he  was  giving  Mrs.  Shea  "  an 
account"  of  her  sister,  he  busied  himself  in  scrutiniz 
ing  the  style  of  living.  The  floor  was  of  hardened 
cement,  often  called  a  "  mud  floor."  The  furniture 
was  meagre,  and  of  the  coarsest  kind.  At  one  end 
was  a  fireplace,  in  which  a  grate  was  set,  with  high 
jambs,  on  which  the  tea  kettle  and  other  cooking  uten 
sils  rested.  The  fire  was  of  soft  coal,  and  Paul  could 
not  help  thinking  what  a  luxury  a  Yankee  cook  stove 
would  be  to  the  family. 

It  was  breakfast  time,  and  the  visitor  soon  realized 
that  he  was  expected  to  partake  with  the  family  ;  and 
as  extra  preparations  had  been  made  for  the  occasion, 
he  was  not  a  little  embarrassed  to  remember  that  he 
had  just  eaten  a  hearty  breakfast  at  the  hotel. 

"  Draw  up,  and  take  a  bit  t'  ate  wid  us,"  said  Mi 
chael,  as  he  seated  himself  at  the  table. 

"  I  thank  you  ;  I  took  my  breakfast  quite  early  this 
morning,  in  order  to  be  ready  for  you." 

"  Is  it  possible  !  " 

Paul  saw  that  he  was  grievously  offending  Irish 
hospitality,  and  he  was  compelled  to  compromise. 

"  I  supposed  you  took  breakfast  much  earlier  than 
this.  In  America  our  working  people  have  breakfast 
at  six  or  seven  o'clock  ;  and  really  I  did  not  under 
stand  that  I  was  invited  to  breakfast.  But  I  will  sit 
down  with  you,  and  take  a  cup  of  tea." 

The  meal  consisted  of  tea  —  few  in  the  United 
Kingdom  take  coffee  in  the  morning ;  of  slices  cut 
from  an  enormous  loaf  of  white  bread  in  the  hands 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    49 

of  Mrs.  Shea,  who  first  buttered  the  surface,  and  then 
cut  off  the  slice  for  the  guest ;  of  boiled  eggs,  which 
in  Europe  are  invariably  eaten  from  the  shell,  the 
whole  being  placed  in  an  egg  cup  ;  and  of  fried  bacon, 
which  consisted  of  rib  pieces  cured  and  smoked.  The 
butter  was  fresh,  but  the  visitor  observed  that  the 
members  of  the  family  put  salt  upon  it.  This  was  an 
extra  occasion,  and  the  fare  was  doubtless  much  bet 
ter  than  usual.  Paul  partook  of  a  compromise  break 
fast,  and  having  given  and  received  all  the  information 
the  time  permitted,  he  bade  good  by  to  the  hospitable 
Irish  woman,  and  mounted  a  car  with  Mr.  Shea. 

"  Don't  break  your  hand,"  said  the  carman  when 
Michael  gave  him  sixpence,  at  the  end  of  the  course ; 
and  no  Irish  driver  was  ever  yet  satisfied  with  a  regu 
lar  fare. 

Paul  found  Dr.  Winstock  at  the  hotel,  and  they 
went  together  to  a  store  in  Patrick  Street,  to  see  the 
silver  pitcher  which  the  doctor  and  his  friend  had  se 
lected  the  preceding  evening.  The  young  officer  was 
perfectly  satisfied  with  the  plate,  and  directions  for  the 
inscription  to  be  engraved  upon  it  were  left  with  the 
silversmith. 

"  As  I  have  to  call  upon  his  worship  the  mayor,  I 
must  find  a  barber's  shop  now ;  for  I  left  my  razors 
on  board  the  ship,"  said  the  doctor,  after  they  had 
returned  to  the  hotel. 

"  I  think  I  will  go  with  you,  sir,"  replied  Paul. 

"  You  !     Do  you  shave,  Paul?"  laughed  the  doctor. 

"  Not  much  ;  but  I  would  like  to  have  my  hair  cut." 

It  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  find  a  barber's  shop 
in  Cork.  They  were  directed  to  one  in  Old  George 

5 


JO  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,   OR 

Street,  and  while  they  were  looking  for  it,  one  of 
those  officious  idlers,  who  are  constantly  studying 
out  the  means  of  extracting  sixpences  from  the  pock 
ets  of  strangers,  offered  his  assistance,  and  conducted 
them  to  the  shop. 

"  Don't  break  your  hand,"  said  the  vagabond,  when 
Dr.  Winstock  gave  him  two  pennies ;  but  no  notice 
\vas  taken  of  him,  and  the  travellers  entered  the  shop. 

Both  of  them  revolted  at  the  idea  of  such  a  shaving 
saloon.  It  was  a  small,  dirty  apartment,  opening  into 
another,  in  which  the  operator's  wife  and  children 
lived.  On  -the  fire  was  a  skillet  of  hot  water,  and  in 
the  middle  of  the  floor  stood  a  common,  straight-back 
kitchen  chair,  in  which  the  doctor  seated  himself  after 
preparing  for  the  operation.  The  professor  of  the 
tonsorial  art  took  an  old  wooden  box,  such  as  our 
grandfathers  used,  and  made  his  lather. 

There  was  no  proper  barber's  chair,  such  as  we  see 
in  America,  with  a  rest  for  the  head  ;  but  the  barber 
held  the  head  with  one  hand,  and  used  his  brush  or 
razor  with  the  other. 

"Will  I  shorten  the  hair?"  asked  the  barber,  when 
he  had  finished  the  face  of  his  customer. 

"  No  ;  I  haven't  much  hair,  and  I  can't  afford  to 
lose  any  of  it,"  replied  the  doctor. 

"  Troth,  ye  haven't  much,  thin  ;  but  I  have  a  nice 
grase  made  from  the  feet  of  goats,  that  would  bring  it 
out  moighty  foine,"  said  the  barber. 

Paul  consented  to  have  his  hair  "  shortened,"  though 
he  couldn't  help  thinking  of  the  elegant  saloons  and 
the  elegant  operators  in  his  own  country,  as  he  sat 
down  in  the  kitchen  chair.  The  price,  at  least,  cor 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    5! 

responded  with  the  meagre  outfit  of  the  shop,  for 
it  was  only  one  penny  for  the  shave,  and  two  for 
"shortening"  the  hair.  In  Europe,  those  who  are 
regarded  as  genteel  people  shave  themselves ;  and 
even  in  London  and  Paris  it  is  impossible  to  find  a 
decent  barber's  shop. 

After  Dr.  Winstock  had  been  presented  to  the 
mayor  by  his  Corkonian  friend,  the  travellers  took  the 
steamer  for  Queenstown,  at  Patrick's  Bridge.  While 
they  were  riding  down  in  the  car,  Paul  wished  to 
pay  his  share  of  the  hotel  bill,  but  the  doctor  was 
obstinate. 

"  I  would  like  to  see  the  bill,  at  any  rate,  sir," 
laughed  Paul.  "  I  want  to  learn  something  about  the 
customs  at  the  hotels." 

"  They  are  quite  different  from  those  in  the  United 
States,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock,  as  he  handed  the  bill 
to  Paul. 

"  I  see  they  are ;  and  I  don't  think  the  hotels  com 
pare  with  our  own." 

"  You  are  right  in  the  main,  though  in  some  re 
spects  they  are  superior.  Even  in  some  of  the  cele 
brated  hotels  of  New  York,  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  get  a  civil  answer  from  a  clerk  in  the  office ;  while 
in  this  country  you  will  invariably  be  treated  with 
respect,  and  every  attention  will  be  paid  to  you." 

"  Beds,  5-y.,"  said  Paul,  reading  from  the  bill ;  "  two 
and  sixpence  each." 

"  They  charge  for  each  item  separately ;  not  so 
much  a  day,  as  at  our  hotels-," 

"  Breakfasts,  $s.    Attendance,  2s.   What's  that  for?  " 

"  It   used   to   be   the  custom   here  for   servants  to 


52  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

collect  their  own  wages  of  the  guests ;  now  their  fees, 
called  '  attendance,'  are  charged  in  the  bills  ;  but  they 
still  have  the  habit  of  hanging  around  departing 
visitors,  and  most  of  them  give  sixpence,  though 
there  is  no  obligation  to  do  so." 

"  I  think  almost  every  common  sort  of  person  that 
looks  at  you,  expects  you  to  give  him  sixpence," 
added  Paul. 

"  That  is  true  ;  Americans  have  the  reputation  of 
being  free  givers,  and  these  plunderers  make  the  best 
of  their  opportunities.  They  hardly  expect  an  Eng 
lishman  to  give  them  anything  for  civilities  thrust 
upon  him." 

At  the  bridge  Dr.  Winstock  gave  the  carman  a 
shilling ;  and  though  it  was  double  the  legal  fare,  the 
fellow  grumbled,  and  begged  for  more ;  but  the  doctor 
was  firm  —  and  the  American  who  travels  in  Europe 
with  limited  means  must  cultivate  this  virtue,  or  he 
will  be  robbed  at  every  street  corner. 

The  passage  down  the  river  was  delightful,  and 
was  fully  enjoyed  by  the  travellers.  At  Queens- 
town,  they  employed  a  shore  boat  to  convey  them  to 
the  ship.  The  regular  fare  for  a  two-oar  boat  was 
sixpence ;  but  the  boatmen  had  the  impudence  to 
demand  two  shillings,  which,  however,  they  did 
not  get. 

Paul  was  a  lion,  on  board,  and  he  had  an  interested 
audience  while  he  "  spun  his  yarn."  In  the  after 
noon,  one  half  of  the  ship's  company  were  permitted 
to  go  on  shore  and  explore  Queenstown. 

"  Did  you  have  any  money,  Paul?"  asked  Pelham, 
the  fourth  lieutenant,  who  had  been  so  rebellious  at 


YOUXG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    53 

the  time  when  the  students  had  been  compelled  to 
deliver  their  money  to  the  principal. 

"  Certainly  I  did.  I  drew  on-  Mr.  Lowington  for 
thirty  shillings,"  replied  Paul. 

"  The  fellows  begin  to  feel  bad  about  their  money 
again,"  added  Pelham.  "  We  are  going  to  have  a 
chance  to  go  on  shore  now,  and  if  one  of  us  is  hungry, 
we  haven't  a  penny  to  buy  a  biscuit." 

"  Mr.  Lowington  will  do  what  is  right  about  it, 
you  may  be  sure." 

"  Well,  I  hope  he  will.  I  have  always  had  a  little 
money  in  my  pocket,  and  I  don't  like  to  feel  like  a 
beggar." 

"  He  gave  small  sums  to  those  who  went  on  shore 
this  afternoon,"  added  Paul. 

"  Well,  I  hope  he  won't  be  mean  about  it." 

"  He  won't,  you  may  depend  upon  it.  And  I  hope 
all  the  fellows  will  use  their  money  properly." 

"  Of  course  they  will." 

"  I'm  afraid  some  will  not,  which  may  stop  their 
allowance." 

"  If  the  fellows  don't  get  their  money,  there'll  be 
another  mutiny." 

"  Pooh  !  " 

"You  don't  believe  in  the  mutiny,  Paul?" 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't." 

"  I  don't  think  much  of  it ;  but  there  will  be  trouble 
if  the  money  is  kept  back." 

Shortly  after   this  conversation  the  boats  came  off 

with  the    boys  who    had  visited   the    shore ;    and   all 

hands  were  piped  to   muster,  to  enable  the  principal 

to  inform  them  that  the  entire  ship's  company  would 

5* 


54  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

visit  Cork  on  the  following  clay,  and  make  an  excur 
sion  to  Blarney  Castle.  This  intelligence  was  re 
ceived  with  intense  satisfaction  by  the  boys.  Dr. 
Winstock  had  brought  an  invitation  from  his  worship 
the  mayor  for  the  whole  ship's  company  to  pay  a 
visit  to  the  city. 

The  next  day,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  after 
two  hours  of  study  by  the  students,  one  of  the  little 
steamers,  which  had  been  engaged  for  the  purpose, 
came  alongside,  and  all  the  boys  went  on  board,  and 
also  the  occupants  of  the  main  cabin,  the  ship  being 
left  in  charge  of  Peaks,  the  boatswain. 

On  their  arrival  in  Cork,  they  were  received  and 
welcomed  by  his  worship,  who  invited  them  to  par 
take  of  a  collation  in  the  town  hall  at  three  o'clock. 
Mr.  Lowington  replied  for  the  students  ;  but  in  order 
to  give  the  Irish  magnate  an  opportunity  to  know 
what  American  boys  are,  Captain  Gordon  was  called 
out,  and  made  a  very  modest  and  pretty  speech, 
thanking  his  worship  for  his  kindness  and  hospitality, 
and  promising  ever  to  hold  the  pleasant  city  of  Cork 
in  grateful  remembrance.  Doubtless  the  mayor  was 
surprised  to  hear  a  boy  of  seventeen  make  a  speech, 
for  it  was  more  than  H.  R.  H.  the  Prince  of  Wales 
could  do  at  nineteen,  when  he  was  ftted  and  toasted 
in  America. 

After  these  ceremonies,  the  boys,  who  had  been 
carefully  charged,  before  they  left  the  ship,  to  behave 
like  gentlemen,  were  allowed  to  explore  the  city  at 
their  own  pleasure,  with  positive  injunctions  to  be  at 
the  town  hall  by  three  o'clock. 

A  little  liberty  was  coveted  by  the  boys.     Two  and 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    55 

sixpence,  in  small  coin,  had  been  paid  to  each  student, 
and  all'of  them  were  in  condition  to  enjoy  themselves. 
It  is  probable  that  some  of  them  drank  more  than  one 
glass  of  ale,  which  is  almost  as  plenty  as  water  all 
over  the  United  Kingdom  ;  and  it  is  known  that  there 
were  some  excesses,  though  none  of  a  serious  nature. 
For  instance,  when  a  rude  fellow  in  Great  George 
Street  ventured  to  say  something  about  "  a  bit  of  a 
shwell,"  as  Pelham  passed,  he  was  knocked  over  for 
his  pains.  This  was  more  than  any  Irishman,  or  any 
Irish  boy,  could  stand,  and  a  mild  type  of  "  Donny- 
brook  Fair  "  was  actually  in  progress,  when  a  couple 
of  the  city  police  stepped  up,  and  drove  off  the  vag 
abonds. 

At  the  appointed  hour,  the  boys,  too  much  interested 
in  the  excursion  to  Blarney  Castle  to  be  tardy,  were 
all  on  hand  at  the  town  hall.  The  collation  was 
disposed  or'  with  excellent  relish  after  the  exercise  of 
the  morning,  and  with  all  the  more  relish  because  it 
was  so  different  from  the  food  to  which  they  had  been 
accustomed  during  the  voyage.  Fowl  and  ham  is  a 
favorite  combination  in  the  United  Kingdom ;  and 
this  was  the  staple  of  the  feast.  Cold  roast  beef  and 
cold  mutton  were  also  plentifully  supplied,  with 
crackers  and  Stilton  cheese. 

While  the  guests  were  occupied  with  the  collation, 
twenty-four  jaunting  cars  had  been  collected  at  Mr. 
Lowington's  request,  vipon  which  the  whole  party 
mounted,  and  started  for  Blarney.  The  drive  along 
the  north  bank  of  the  river  was  exceedingly  pleasant, 
and  the  excursionists  obtained  their  first  view  of  the 
"  rural  districts."  The  country  was  certainly  very 


56  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

beautiful,  but  like  most  Americans  who  travel  in  the 
United  Kingdom,  our  tourists  were  greatly  disap 
pointed  because  they  could  see  so  little  of  it.  There 
were  fine  gardens  and  magnificent  estates,  but  hardly 
a  sight  of  them  could  be  obtained,  for  they  were  all 
surrounded  by  high  stone  walls,  sometimes  ten  feet  in 
height,  and  the  tops  covered  with  sharp  stones,  and  in 
some  instances  with  broken  bottles,  to  prevent  the 
ingress  of  interlopers. 

Farther  from  Cork,  they  came  to  open  places,  and 
obtained  a  more  extended  view  of  the  country,  and 
after  gazing  so  long  upon  the  waste  of  waters  on  their 
passage  across  the  ocean,  the  fine,  but  not  picturesque, 
scenery  was  fully  appreciated  by  them. 

After  a  ride  of  less  than  an  hour,  —  for  the  distance 
is  only  five  miles,  and  the  carmen  drove  at  a  furious 
rate,  —  the  procession  reached  the  gates  of  the  estate 
on  which  the  castle  is  situated.  As  no  vehicles  were 
allowed  upon  the  premises,  the  boys  got  down,  and 
walked  a  short  distance  over  the  lawn,  till  they  reached 
the  ruin.  Mr.  Lowington  gave  the  old  woman  ten 
shillings  in  full  for  the  whole  party. 

"  Go  in  there,  and  kiss  the  Blarney  shtone,"  said 
the  portress,  as  she  pointed  to  a  ruined  apartment, 
on  a  level  with  the  ground. 

The  .boys  rushed  in,  and  vied  with  each  other  for 
the  first  chance  to  become  eloquent  so  cheaply.  The 
Blarney  stone  is  a  small  stone,  square  in  form,  fixed 
into  a  larger  one  of  irregular  shape.  The  tradition  is, 
that  whoever  kisses  it  becomes  endowed  with  the 
sweet,  persuasive,  wheedling  eloquence  which  is 
noticeable  in  the  speech  of  the  Corkonians. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     57 

".There  is  a  stone  there 
That  whoever  kisses, 
O,  he  never  misses 

To  grow  eloquent." 

Blarney  Castle,  built  in  the  fifteenth  century,  was 
the  residence  of  the  M'Carthys,  Lords  of  Muskerry, 
Barons  of  Blarney,  and  Earls  of  Glencarty.  It 
consists  at  present  of  a  massive  donjon  tower,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  high,  to  which  is  attached 
the  minor  ruins.  The  boys  went  up  the  circular 
staircase,  from  whiclvopened  vaults,  rooms,  recesses, 
and  loopholes.  The  walls  were  very  thick,  and  con 
veyed  an  idea  of  the  immense  strength'  of  ancient 
castles.  Half  way  up,  they  passed  out  upon  a  por 
tion  of  the  ruin  like  a  platform,  overgrown  with  ivy, 
and  walked  round  upon  the  crumbling  walls,  which 
were  from  three  to  Six  feet  thick.  From  the  summit 
of  the  tower  they  obtained  a  fine  view  of  the  sur 
rounding  country. 

"  Do  you  see  that  sheet  of  water?"  said  Professor 
Mapps,  pointing  to  a  small  lake,  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  distant. 

"  Yes,  sir  !     Blarney  Lake  !  "  shouted  the  boys. 

"  It  is  said  that  the  Earl  of  Glencarty,  who  forfeited 
his  castle  in  the  revolution  of  1641,  threw  all  his 
plate  into  a  certain  part  of  that  lake.  Three  of  the 
M'Carthys  inherit  the  secret  of  the  spot  where  it  is 
deposited,  and  any  one  of  them,  when  he  dies,  must 
communicate  his  knowledge  to  another  member  of 
the  family  ;  for  you  know,  in  Irish  parlance,  if  one 
can't  keep  a  secret,  three  can ;  and  it  is  never  to  be 
revealed  until  a  M'Carthy  is  again  Lord  of  Blarney, 


58  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,  OR 

which  may  come  to  pass  when  the  Fenians  have 
fought  their  last  battle  in  Canada." 

Descending  from  the  tower,  the  party  were  shown 
to  the  cave  by  a  boy,  who  declared  that  it  was  three 
hundred  yards  deep ;  but  the  hole  was  so  wet,  dark, 
and  "  pokcrish,"  that  no  one  was  disposed  to  test  the 
truth  of  the  statement.  Fragments  of  the  limestone 
which  formed  the  cave  were  obtained,  and  then  the 
dungeons  where  "  the  M'Carthy  kept  his  prisoners  " 
were  exhibited.  They  were  dark  and  horrible  dens, 
and  seemed  to  make  real  the  romantic  stories  of  such 
places  which  most  of  the  students  had  read. 

On  their  way  from  the  castle  to  the  Groves  of 
Blarney,  a  few  rods  distant,  Paul  Kendall,  who  was 
interested  in  manners  and  customs  even  more  than 
scenery  and  buildings,  had  an  opportunity  to  inspect 
what  was  called  a  barn.  It  wa*s  a  long,  low  brick 
building,  used  merely  to  shelter  sheep  and  cattle  in 
the  winter,  for  all  hay  and  straw  is  stacked  out  doors. 

The  Groves  were  the  pleasure  gardens  of  the 
castle,  and  were  formerly  filled  with  statues,  grottos, 
alcoves,  bridges,  and  other  rustic  ornaments.  They 
are  still  very  beautiful.  The  party  were  admitted  by 
an  old  gardener,  who  was  so  fat  and  lame  that  he 
could  hardly  walk. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND  AND    SCOTLAND. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

t 

A   QUESTION    OF    FINANCE. 

THE  Groves  of  Blarney  were  certainly  very  in 
teresting  and  very  beautiful,  though  it  was  too 
early  in  the  season  to  see  them  to  the  greatest  advan 
tage. 

"  The  Groves  of  Blarney, 
They  look  so  charming 
Down  by  the  purling 
Of  sweet  silent  streams, 
Being  banked  with  posies, 
That  spontaneous  grow  there, 
Planted  in  order 
By  the  sweet  Rock  Close." 

The  popular  song  describing  the  garden  is  peculiar 
ly  Irish,  even  to  the  "bulls"  it  contains,  and  has  done 
more  for  the  reputation  of  Blarney  than  its  glories 
will  warrant. 

To  Paul  Kendall,  old  Tom  Field,  the  gardener, 
was  quite  as  interesting  as  the  grounds.  He  pointed 
out  the  transcendent  beauties  of  the  spot  with  genuine 
Irish  enthusiasm.  The  region  was  rocky  in  places, 
and  the  rocks  had  been  turned  to  good  account  in 
increasing  the  picturesqueness  of  the  gardens.  From 
a  ledge  a  flight  of  steps  had  been  hewn  out,  which 


60  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

from  some  tradition  had  received  the  name  of  the 
"  Witches'  Stairs,"  and  a  grotto,  partly  natural  and 
partly  artificial,  was  called  the  "  Witches'  Kitchen." 
On  the  bank  of  a  small  stream,  within  the  pleasure 
grounds,  there  is  a  very  fine  cromlech,  which  Pro 
fessor  Mapps  explained.  It  was  a  kind  of  monument, 
consisting  of  a  large  flat  stone,  placed  upon  other 
upright  stones  as  supports.  These  remains  of  the 
past  are  supposed  to  have  been  altars  on  which  sacri 
fices  were  offered  to  heroes  buried  beneath  them. 

The  rocks  in  the  garden  presented  a  curious  appear 
ance,  being  reduced  to  the  most  fanciful  shapes  by  the 
action  of  time  and  the 'elements.  Some  of  them  had 
irregular  apertures  quite  through  them,  large  enough 
to  admit  the  hand.  Those  of  this  kind,  which  had 
been  partially  covered  with  earth,  had  trees  growing 
on  their  tops,  the  roots  intertwined  through  the  holes. 
There  were  English  oaks,  laurel  and  yew  trees,  in  the 
garden. 

After  an  hour  had  been  spent  on  the  grounds,  and 
Tom  Field  had  received  ten  shillings  for  his  services, 
the  boys  were  called  together  by  the  boatswain's 
whistle,  and  directed  to  return  to  the  gate  where  the 
cars  had  been  left.  The  ride  back  was  by  a  different 
road  from  that  taken  in  going,  and  the  students  were 
enabled  to  see  more  of  the  country.  At  seven  o'clock 
they  arrived  at  Patrick's  Bridge,  where  they  were  to 
embark  for  the  cove.  Mr.  Lovvington  had  bargained 
with  a  stable-keeper  for  the  cars,  and  he  paid  the 
regular  fare  to  Blarney,  which  is  two  and  sixpence, 
with  sixpence  "bonus"  to  each  driver;  but  every 
one  of  them  beset  the  occupants  of  his  car,  using  the 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    6l 

"blarney"  of  the  region  to  extort  something  more 
from  them.  In  some  cases  they  succeeded  ;  in  others 
they  failed. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  steamer  was  alongside  the  ship, 
and  the  students  were  tired  enough  to  sleep  after  the 
fatigues  of  the  day ;  for  after  being  confined  so  long 
to  the  uneasy  decks  of  the  vessel,  it  was  hard  work  to 
travel  much  on  the  solid  ground.  For  a  week  the 
boys  were  closely  confined  to  their  studies,  though  a 
portion  of  them  made  excursions,  each  pleasant  after 
noon  to  Hawlbowline,  the  fortifications,  to  Cloyne, 
and  to  Rostellan  Castle.  At  the  latter  they  saw  an 
ancient  sword,  said  to  have  belonged  to  the  great 
Brian  Boroimhe,  and  more  cromlechs  in  the  vicinity. 
But  the  great  event  to  which  they  were  looking  for 
ward  was  the  visit  to  Killarney.  The  weather  had 
been  rather  unsettled,  and  the  grand  excursion  had 
been  postponed  to  Wednesday,  on  the  morning  of 
which  the  skies  were  clear,  with  every  indication  of 
good  weather,  and  it  was  announced  that  the  boats 
would  start  at  nine  o'clock. 

The  financial  relations  between  the  principal  and 
the  students  began  to  look  a  little  stormy  on  the  pres 
ent  occasion.  Mr.  Lowington  had  noticed,  in  the 
visit  to  Cork,  that  some  of  the  boys  had  been 
drinking  beer,  and  he  had  lectured  them  severely  for 
it.  He  had  strictly  forbidden  any  such  indulgence, 
and  was  disposed  to  stop  their  allowances  of  money 
if  the  offence  was  repeated. 

The  students  had  been  supplied  with  money,  to  the 
extent  of  from  ten  to  thirty  pounds  each,  by  their 
parents.  The  principal,  to  prevent  gambling  and 
6 


62  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

other  excesses,  had  taken  possession  of  their  funds, 
giving  each  a  receipt  for  the  amount  received.  But 
he  intended  to  allow  them  small  sums  for  pocket 
money  when  they  went  on  shore,  and  he  had  ex 
changed  a  large  quantity  of  the  sovereigns  for  half 
crowns,  shillings,  and  sixpences.  If  a  boy  wanted 
any  of  his  money,  he  presented  a  written  order  to  the 
principal,  which,  if  approved,  was  paid  by  the  pur 
sers  and  indorsed  on  the  original  receipt  in  the  hands 
of  the  drawer. 

Before  the  ship's  company  went  to  Cork,  it  was 
understood  that  drafts  to  the  amount  of  two  and  six 
pence  would  be  honored,  and  all  the  students  had 
drawn  for  this  sum.  The  money  was  kept  in  a  small 
iron  safe,  set  under  the  after  companion  way,  for  Mr. 
Lowington  was  obliged  to  keep  large  sums  on  hand 
for  the  current  expenses  of  the  ship.  The  principal 
kept  the  key  in  his  state-room,  and  when  drafts  were 
to  be  paid,  a  box  of  silver  was  placed  on  the  table, 
the  steerage  doors  opened,  the  boys  passing  in  at 
one  and  out  at  the  other.  The  two  pursers  had  charge 
of  this  business  ;  and  while  one  handed  out  the  money, 
the  other  charged  the  amount  on  the  book,  and  in 
dorsed  it  on  the  receipt.  An  account  was  kept  with 
each  student;  a  page  was  headed  with  his  name,  and 
he  was  credited  for  the  amount  of  money  received 
from  him,  and  debited  for  the  sums  paid  to  him.  The 
pursers  also  recorded,  on  the  same  page,  all  clothing 
served  out  to  the  students. 

It  had  already  been  given  out  that  drafts  for  the 
excursion  to  Killarney  for  three  shillings  would  be 
paid.  Many  of  the  boys  thought  this  was  a  very 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    63 

small  sum,  when  it  was  considered  that  the  visit 
would  occupy  three  days ;  but  all  the  railway  and 
hotel  expenses  were  to  be  defrayed  by  the  principal 
from  his  own  funds,  and  the  allowance  to  the  boys 
was  only  to  enable  them  to  purchase  slight  refresh 
ments,  and  to  reward  any  servant  or  other  person  who 
might  assist  them  as  guides  or  servants. 

"  Three  shillings  !  "  growled  Wilton  ;  "  when  I 
have  fifteen  pounds  in  Lowington's  hands.  I  never 
was  mean  yet,  and  I  don't  want  to  begin  now." 

"Isn't  it  enough?"  asked  Shuffles,  now  the  re 
formed  mischief-maker,  and  disposed  to  obey  all 
orders  and  submit  to  all  regulations  without  com 
plaint. 

"  No,  it  isn't !  and  for  one,  I  won't  stand  it,"  re 
plied  Wilton. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do?" 

"  I'm  going  to  draw  my  order  for  ten  shillings,  at 
least.  My  father  is  rich,  and  don't  want  me  to  travel 
about  with  only  three  shillings  in  my  pocket.  I  shall 
have  to  give  more  than  that  to  the  beggars." 

"  You  needn't ;  a  penny  is  enough  to  give  to  a  beg 
gar  at  any  time  ;  and  they  will  know  you  are  '  green  ' 
if  you  give  them  any  more,"  replied  Shuffles. 

"  Ten  shillings  is  little  enough,  any  how." 

"  I  wouldn't  grumble,  Wilton,"  added  Shuffles, 
quietly.  "  You  will  not  need  more  than  three  shil 
lings." 

"  I  want  more  than  that  in  my  pocket.  I  should 
feel  like  a  beggar  myself  with  no  more  than  three 
shillings.  I'm  going  to  do  something,  any  how. 
What  do  you  say,  Monroe  ?  " 


flf  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

•'  I  say  it  is  downright  tyranny  and  meanness,"  an 
swered  Monroe,  who  had  just  paused  before  the  other 
two  boys.  -"  What's  three  shillings?  I  spent  all  I 
had  in  Cork,  the  other  day,  before  we  went  out  to 
Blarney  ;  and  then  I  felt  like  one  of  the  ragged 
urchins  that  asked  me  for  a  'pinny.'" 

As  Shuffles  was  not  a  hopeful  person  with  whom 
to  talk  of  any  insubordination,  the  two  young  gentle 
men,  who  had  been  prominent  members  of  the  Chain 
League  during  the  voyage,  walked  forward  to  con- 
eider  what  could  be  done  to  improve  their  financial 
prospects. 

•'  I  don't  think  Lowington  has  any  right  to  keep 
my  money  when  I  want  it,"  said  Wilton,  as  they 
halted  on  the  forecastle. 

"  That's  plain  enough  ;  but  if  we  spend  all  our 
money  now,  we  shall  have  none  later  in  the  season ; 
and  we  haven't  begun  to  see  anything  yet."  . 

"  We  can  get  more.  Every  fellow  on  board  has* 
written  to  his  folks  since  we  arrived.  My  father  will 
send  me  a  bill  of  exchange  any  time  I  want  more 
money.  I  know  he  would  be  mad  if  he  knew  I  was 
to  be  put  off  with  three  shillings  !  "  replied  Wilton, 
much  excited  by  his  grievances. 

"  If  Lowington  would  give  us  a  pound,  or  even 
ten  shillings,  we  could  get  along  very  well." 

"  Do  you  know  why  he  will  give  us  only  sixpence 
more  for  three  days  than  he  did  for  one  ? "  asked 
Wilton. 

"  Because  some  of  the  fellows  spent  their  money 
for  beer  in  Cork,"  sneered  Monroe. 

"  Well,  if  he  don't  give  me  more  than  three  shil- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.      6$ 

lings,  I  will  spend  every  penny  of  it  for  beer,  or 
wine." 

"  That  would  punish  you  more  than  him.  It  gave 
you  the  headache  before." 

"  I  don't  care  for  that." 

"But  what  are  you  going  to  do?  It's  no  use  to 
talk  about  it." 

"•  I'll  tell  you  what  I  would  do  if  I  only  had  money 
enough." 

"  If!" 

"  Perhaps  I'll  have  it  yet,"  replied  Wilton,  sugges 
tively. 

"  What  would  you  do  ?  " 

"  I  would  quit  the  ship,  and  travel  on  my  own 
hook,"  answered  Wilton,  in  a  whisper.  "  I  say, 
Monroe,  wouldn't  it  be  tip-top,  if  we  had  the  funds, 
to  cruise  about  without  being  tied  to  Lowington's 
coat  tails  !  We  could  have  a  splendid  time  —  couldn't 
we?" 

"  I  believe  you,"  said  Monroe,  delighted  with  the 
idea.  "  But  what's  the  use  of  talking  about  it?  We 
haven't  the  money  ;  and  if  we  had,  we  are  tied  to  the 
ship." 

"  How  easy  it  would  be  for  us  to  slip  off  when  we 
get  to  Cork,  take  the  train  for  Dublin,  and  hurry  up 
to  London ! " 

"  You  would  certainly  be  caught.  Do  you  know 
why  Lowington  is  so  particular  about  our  wearing 
our  uniform  on  shore?" 

"  So  that  we  may  be  recognized  if  we  run  away?" 
laughed  Wilton.  "  But  couldn't  we  buy  some  clothes  ?  " 

"  Your  fifteen  pounds  wouldn't  last  long  if  you  had 
6* 


66  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

to  purchase  a.  new  suit  of  clothes.  Besides,  Low  ing- 
ton  would  telegraph,  and  send  police  officers  after 
you." 

"  I  could  manage  all  that  if  I  only  had  the  money  ; 
and  I  mean  to  have  it  too,"  added  Wilton,  dropping 
his  voice  again  to  a  confidential  whisper. 

u  How  will  you  get  it?" 

"  Don't  say  any  more  about  it  now.  We  will  talk 
the  matter  over  when  we  are  out  of  hearing.  I'm 
going  to  give  Lowington  a  chance  to  do  the  handsoma 
thing  first ;  if  he  don't  do  it,  the  consequences  lie  on 
himself,  not  on  me." 

The  principal  just  then  appeared  to  be  in  danger 
of  something  terrible. 

"What  will  you  do?  Do  you  mean  to  get  up 
another  Chain?  " 

"  Not  I !  "  exclaimed  Wilton,  earnestly.  "  When 
I  am  going  to  do  anything,  I  shall  not  tell  every  fel 
low  in  the  ship,  including  the  flunkies  in  the  after 
cabin.  Let  us  draw  an  order  on  Lowington  for  ten 
shillings  each." 

"  You  might  as  well  draw  it  for  a  hundred  pounds. 
He  would  pay  one  as  readily  as  the  other,"  said 
Monroe. 

"  Perhaps  he  would  ;  that's  nothing  to  do  with  it> 
If  he  won't  pay  it,  I  shall  do  the  next  thing." 

"What's  that?" 

"  I  shall  not  mention  it  at  present ;  but  if  you 
want  to  go  up  to  London  with  me  in  a  few  days,  on 
our  own  account,  I'll  help  you  through." 

"  To  London ! " 

"  Shut  up  —  will  you?    Do  you  want  to  tell  every 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    6f 

booby  in  tbe  sbip  what  we  are  about?  I  have  given 
you  a  hint,  and  I  shall  say  no  more  now." 

"  Are  you  going  to  draw  the  order  for  ten  shillings  ?  * 
asked  Monroe. 

"  I  am  ;  and  I  would  like  to  have  half  a  dozen  fel 
lows  do  the  same." 

"  I  will,  for  one  ;  and  Sanborn  and  Adler  will." 

They  went  down  into  the  steerage,  and  wrote  the 
orders  at  one  of  the  tables.  Sanborn  and  Adler  were 
induced,  without  much  persuasion,  to  join  them.  Half 
past  seven  on  Wednesday  morning  had  been  appointed 
for  the  payment  of  the  orders.  Mr.  Lowington  sat  at 
a  small  table  in  the  main  cabin,  and  wrote  his  initials 
on  each  draft,  before  it  was  presented  to  the  pursers. 
Wilton  was  near  the  head  of  the  column,  and  behind 
him  were  his  dissatisfied  companions.  When  he 
reached  the  principal's  table,  he  handed  in  his  order. 

"  Ten  shillings  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  If  you  please,  sir,"  added  Wilton,  with  politic 
politeness. 

"  I  cannot  approve  this  order.  Three  shillings  was 
the  amount  for  which  you  were  authorized  to  draw," 
said  the  principal. 

"  I  don't  think  three  shillings  is  enough,  sir." 

"  Were  you  one  of  those  who  drank  beer  in  Cork 
the  other  day  ?  " 

"  I  was,  sir." 

"  If  the  offence  is  repeated,  your  drafts  will  not  be 
honored  again,"  added  Mr.  Lowington,  as  he  altered 
the  "  ten  "  in  the  order  to  "  three." 

"  I  couldn't  help  it,  sir,"  growled  Wilton. 

"  You  couldn't  help  drinking  beer  !  "  exclaimed  the 
principal,  looking  sternly  at  the  culprit. 


68  SHAMROCK   AXD    THISTLE,    OR 

"  No,  sir ;  I  was  thirsty,  and  I  couldn't  get  any 
Water." 

"  Couldn't  you  have  asked  for  water  instead  of  beer, 
in  the  shop  you  entered  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  like  to  do  that ;  it  looks  mean  to  go  into 
a  man's  shop  and  buy  nothing." 

"  You  could  pay  for  the  trouble  you  caused,  if  you 
are  so  sensitive.  Be  that  as  it  may,  don't  let  me  hear 
of  your  drinking  beer  again." 

Wilton  took  his  order,  and  passed  on  to  the  pursers, 
from  whom  he  received  his  three  shillings.  He  was 
angry,  but  not  much  disappointed,  for  he  had  hardly 
expected  to  have  his  order  for  ten  shillings  paid.  The 
drafts  of  those  who  followed  him  were  altered  in  the 
same  manner.  Even  the  officers  in  the  after  cabin 
were  not  allowed  to  draw  for  more  than  the  stated 
sum. 

"  I  wish  I  had  the  ten  shillings  I  subscribed  for  that 
confounded  silver  pitcher,"  said  Wilton,  when  he  met 
Monroe  after  drawing  their  money. 

"  So  do  I.  We  were  fools  to  make  him  a  present 
for  treating  us  in  this  mean  and  tyrannical  manner. 
A  shilling  a  day  for  the  extra  expenses  of  a  gentle 
man's  son  !  "  exclaimed  Monroe.  "  I  wish  there  was 
some  way  to  get  up  a  breeze." 

"  There  will  be  a  way,"  added  Wilton,  mysteriously. 
"  I'm  not  going  to  stand  this  sort  of  thing.  It  was 
Well  enough  when  we  were  at  sea,  and  had  no  chance 
to  spend  money ;  but  the  shoe  pinches  here." 

"  We  paid  the  ten  shillings  to  get  out  of  the  Chain 
scrape.  I  suppose  we  ought  not  to  complain  of  that," 
said  Monroe. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    69 

"  But  the  whole  thing  came  out.  Shuffles  told  the 
parson  all  about  it." 

"  He  didn't  call  any  names." 

"  I  don't  care  anything  about  that  now.  It  is  done, 
and  can't  be  undone.  If  I  can  raise  the  wind,  I  will 
take  care  of  myself." 

"  But  you  can't,"  said  Monroe. 

"  But  I  can,"  replied  Wilton,  positively.  "  There 
are  heaps  of  money  in  the  main  cabin." 

"  If  there  are,  the  fact  doesn't  concern  you." 

"  Yes,  it  does ;  for  some  of  my  money  is  there,  and 
I'm  bound  to  have  it,  by  hook  or  by  crook. ^  How 
much  has  Lowington  got  of  yours,  Monroe?" 

"Fifteen  pounds,  less  what  I  have  drawn  —  fifteen 
and  sixpence." 

"  You  and  I  together  have  enough  foi  a  first-rate 
time,"  added  Wilton. 

"How  can  you  get  it?" 

"  Come  up  on  the  top-*gallant  forecastle,"  said  Wil 
ton,  leading  the  way. 

"  I  see  you  mean  to  get  into  some  scrape,  Wilton," 
continued  Monroe,  as  they  sat  down  on  the  bowsprit. 

"  You  needn't  get  into  it,  if  you  don't  want  to  do  so. 
I'm  going  to  make  a  sure  thing  of  it,  this  time.  Do 
you  know  where  Lowington  keeps  the  money  ?  " 

"In  that  iron  safe,  which  is  set  in- under  the  aftef 
companion  way." 

"  That's  so." 

"You  don't  mean  to  say  you  intend  to  take  the 
money  out  of  the  safe?"  demanded  Monroe,  who  was 
not  prepared  for  so  bold  an  expedient. 

"What's  the  reason  I  don't  mean  it?" 


7O  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,   OR 

"  You  wouldn't  do  such  a  thing." 

"Yes,  I  would.  Why  not?  The  money  is  mine 
I  didn't  give  it  up  of  my  own  accord.  It  was  taken 
from  me  —  stolen  from  me  !  "  added  Wilton,  with 
emphasis. 

"  Not  stolen  ;  he  will  give  it  back  to  you." 

"  He  had  no  right  to  take  it ;  no  more  right  than  I 
have  to  take  his  money.  It  is  mine,  and  if  I  can  get 
my  fingers  upon  it,  I  shall  take  it." 

"  But  you  can't  get  at  it." 

"  Yes,  I  can." 

"  It  is  locked  up  in  the  safe." 

"  I  don't  care  for  that.  I  can  get  the  key.  It  is  in 
Lowington's  state-room ;  and  I  think  I  know  just 
where  he  keeps  it." 

"  Even  if  you  had  the  key,  you  couldn't  find  a  chance 
to  open  the  safe.  There  is  some  one  in  the  cabin  all 
the  time." 

"  How  easy  it  would  be  for  me  to  hide  till  they  are 
all  gone  to-day  !  " 

"You  would  be  missed." 

"  Well,  I  could  pretend  to  be  sick,  or  '  cut  tip,'  so 
that  I  should  be  punished  by  being  left  on  board.  As 
soon  as  they  were  all  gone,  I  could  get  the  key,  open 
the  safe,  take  my  money,  call  a  shore  boat,  and  be  off 
for  Dublin  and  .London." 

"  Old  Peaks  is  ship-keeper,  and  he  wouldn't  let  you 
leave." 

"  I  could  manage  it  somehow,  I  know.  I  could  get 
up  in  the  night,  and  open  the  safe  then.  Of  course  I 
have  got  to  find  out  exactly  where  the  key  is  first." 

"  I  think  it  is  rather  risky  business." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     ^1 

"  Perhaps  it  is  ;  but  when  we  once  get  the  money 
and  leave  the  ship,  we  are  all  right.  It  would  be  easy 
enough  to  keep  out  of  the  way  then." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that ;  but  I  don't  think  your 
ehance  of  getting  off  is  first-rate.  It  looks  a  little  like 
the  mutiny." 

"  Not  a  bit  like  it,  let  me  tell  you.  I  believe  I  can 
get  the  money  just  as  easy  as  I  can  eat  my  breakfast 
when  it  is  ready.  Will  you  go  in  with  me,  Monroe  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  You  don't." 

"  I  shouldn't  like  to  get  into  any  scrape.  I  don't 
want  to  stay  in  the  brig  while  the  fellows  are  having 
a  good  time  on  shore." 

"•  But  just  consider  what  a  time  we  shall  have  when 
we  get  up  to  London.  We  can  go  over  to  Paris,  too." 

"  I  haven't  any  doubt  that  we  should  have  a  good 
time,  but  I  don't  exactly  see  how  the  thing  is  to  be 
managed." 

"  I'll  find  a  way  to  manage  it.  You  leave  all  that 
to  me,  and  do  just  what  I  tell  you,  and  we  shall  come 
out  all  right,  you  may  depend  upon  it." 

"  Lowington  can't  call  it  stealing,  if  we  take  only 
our  own  money,"  mused  Monroe,  biting  his  finger 
nails. 

"  Of  course  he  can't.  If  he  does,  it  don't  make 
any  difference  —  it  won't  be  stealing." 

Monroe  was  tempted  by  the  unlimited  freedom 
which  the  proposed  runaway  excursion  would  afford 
him  ;  but  though  not  what  would  be  called  a  con 
scientious  young  man,  he  had  some  scruples  about 
opening  the  safe,  and  he  was  determined  that  Wilton 


72  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

should  do  this  part  of  the  business  himself.  He  had 
already  reasoned  himself  into  the  belief  that  it  would 
not  be  stealing  to  take  his  own  money,  even  from  the 
safe  of  the  principal,  and  after  this  point  had  been 
reached,  it  was  not  so  difficult  for  him  to  agree  to  the 
rest  of  the  programme. 

"  Shall  we  try  it  on  now?"  said  Wilton. 

"To-day?" 

"  Yes ;  we  can  contrive  to  be  left  on  board,  some 
how  or  other." 

"  But  I  want  to  go  up  to  the  Lakes  of  Killarney. 
They  say  the  scenery  is  very  fine." 

"  I  don't  care  anything  about  the  scenery.  I've  been 
to  the  White  Mountains,  and  Lake  George.  There's 
nothing  in  Ireland  to  be  compared  with  them.  There's 
nothing  at  Killarney  but  a  one-horse  lake,"  said  Wil 
ton,  contemptuously. 

"  The  boats  are  going  to  be  taken  up  there,  and  the 
fellows  will  have  a  first-rate  time.  I  want  to  go." 

"What's  the  use?     Here's  a  capital  chance  to  —  " 

"  There  goes  the  boatswain's  whistle  piping  to 
muster." 

"What  do  you  say?"  demanded  Wilton,  with  much 
excitement.  "  To-day,  or  not?  " 

"  Some  other  time,"  replied  Monroe,  as  he  hastened 
down  the  ladder,  followed  by  his  companion,  who  was 
decidedly  in  favor  of  carrying  out  his  rebellious  project 
at  once. 

He  did  not  wish  to  go  alone,  and  he  was  forced  to 
abandon  his  scheme  till  another  time,  for  Monroe  was 
fully  resolved  to  make  one  of  the  party  to  the  lakes. 
While  all  hands  were  on  deck -preparing  for  the  de- 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     73 

parture,  he  took  occasion  to  visit  the  steerage,  and 
examine  the  ground.  He  opened  the  door  of  the  main 
cabin.  No  person  was  there,  and  he  ventured  to  ex 
plore  the  premises.  The  door  of  Mr.  Lowington's 
state-room  was  not  locked  ;  he  opened  it,  and  took  a 
hasty  glance  within,  but  he  did  not  see  the  key  of  the 
safe. 

He  then  passed  round  to  the  after  end  of  the  cabin 
to  survey  the  safe  itself.  To  his  astonishment,  the  key 
was  in  the  door.  At  that  instant  he  heard  a  step  on 
the  companion  ladder.  Here  was  an  opportunity 
which  might  never  occur  again.  Taking  the  key  from 
the  safe,  he  fled  from  the  cabin,  and  succeeded  in  effect 
ing  his  retreat  before  the  entrance  of  the  person  whose 
footsteps  had  alarmed  him. 

"  Wilton  !  Wilton  !  "  shouted  one  of  the  boastwain's 
mates,  at  the  head  of  the  main  scuttle. 

"  Here  !  "  replied  the  truant  from  duty. 

"  On  deck  here  !  We  are  waiting  for  you,"  added 
the  mate. 

Wilton  rushed  into  his  room  for  his  pea-jacket,  and 
hastened  .on  deck.  He  had  not  time  to  conceal  the 
key,  and  he  put  it  into  his  pocket. 

"We  are  waiting  for  you  to  take  your  place  in  the 
boat,"  said  Mr.  Haven,  the  first  lieutenant,  as  Wilton 
appeared  in  the  waist. 

"  I  forgot  my  pea-jacket,  sir,  and  went  down  for  it," 
answered  the  absentee. 

"  Take  your  place  in  the  gig.  You  have  kept  us 
all  waiting  for  you." 

Wilton  went  down  the  accommodation  ladder,  and 
took  his  place  at  the  stroke  oar  of  the  gig,  which,  with 
7 


74  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

the  four  cutters,  was  to  form  the  expedition.  The  gig 
pulled  eight  oars  ;  each  of  the  cutters  six ;  and  it  re 
quired  thirty-seven  boys,  including  the  coxswains,  to 
man  the  five  boats.  Each  of  them  carried  three  offi 
cers,  and  two  of  the  faculty,  besides  seven  or  eight  of 
the  crew.  Mr.  Peaks  was  to  go  with  the  party,  in 
order  to  take  charge  of  the  boats,  the  ship  being  left 
in  the  care  of  Mr.  Bitts,  the  carpenter. 

"Doctor,  did  you  see  the  key  of  the  safe?"  asked 
Mr.  Lowington,  as  he  took  his  place  in  the  stern  sheets 
of  the  gig. 

"  I  did  not,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock. 

"  I  thought  I  left  it  in  the  safe.  I  opened  it  to  take 
out  some  money,  and  was  called  away.  I  suppose  I 
put  it  away  somewhere."  "• 

"  Doubtless  you  will  find  it  again,"  added  the  doctor. 

Wilton  did  not  believe  he  would  find  it. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     75 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    LAKES    OF    KILLARNEY. 

WHEN  the  gig  had  received  her  crew  and  pas 
sengers,  she  pulled  away  from  the  ship,  and 
waited  till  the  other  boats  were  ready,  for  they  were 
to  proceed  in  order  as  a  squadron.  The  gig  was  to 
lead,  and  the  four  cutters  were  to  follow,  in  couples, 
abreast  of  each  other.  New  uniforms  had  been 
served  out  to  all  the  boys  after  the  arrival  of  the  ship 
at  Queenstown,  and  nothing  could  be  neater  and 
nicer  than  the  appearance  of  the  officers  and  crew 
in  their  new  clothes. 

"  All  ready  in  the  fourth  cutter,  sir,"  reported 
Johnson,  the  coxswain  of  that  boat ;  and  she  pulled 
out  to  her  position  in  the  line. 

"  Give  way  !  "  said  Captain  Gordon,  in  the  gig, 
when  all  the  boats  had  reported  themselves  ready. 

The  coxswains  repeated  the  order,  and  the  little 
squadron  commenced  its  voyage  up  the  river.  It 
presented  quite  an  imposing  aspect,  and  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  people  on  shore  and  in  other 
boats.  Just  above  the  Young  America's  berth  lay 
two  English  ships  of  war,  one  of  them  a  line-of-battle 
ship,  called  the  Hastings.  As  the  boat  squadron 
approached  her,  a  barge  pulled  by  fourteen  oars,  with 


76  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

several  officers  in  her  stern  sheets,  put  off  from  the 
accommodation  ladder.  From  the  flag  in  her  bow 
it  was  evident  that  one  of  the  officers  was  a  rear- 
admiral —  a  fact  of  which  Mr.  Lowington  informed 
Captain  Gordon,  that  he  might  order  the  proper 
salute. 

"  Stand  by  to  toss !  "  said  the  captain. 

"All  ready,"  reported  the  officers  of  the  boats, 
passing  the  word  in  low  tones  from  one  boat  to 
anotner. 

"  Toss  !  "  added  the  captain  ;  and  as  the  order  was 
repeated  by  the  coxswains  of  the  several  boats,  all 
the  oars  were  raised  to  a  perpendicular  position, 
with  the  handles  resting  on  the  bottom  of  the  boat, 
and  the  blades  athwartships.  As  the  admiral's  barge 
passed  the  squadron,  all  the  officers  touched  their 
caps  and  bowed,  and  the  salute  was  duly  acknowl 
edged  by  the  English  officers. 

"  Let  fall !  "  said  the  coxswain  of  the  gig,  when  the 
barge  had  passed ;  and  the  oars  were  dropped  into 
the  water. 

"  Give  way !  "  and  the  crew  commenced  pulling 
again. 

Half  way  up  to  Cork,  the  oarsmen  were  relieved, 
and  the  other  half  of  the  crew  pulled  the  remainder 
of  the  distance.  The  station  of  "  The  Great  Southern 
and  Western  Railway  "  was  near  the  bank  of  the 
river.  Arrangements  had  been  made  for  the  trans 
portation  of  the  ship's  company  and  the  boats,  the 
latter  of  which  were  taken  out  of  the  water  by  an 
army  of  porters,  and  carried  to  the  platform  cars,  on 
Which  they  were  to  be  conveyed  to  Killarney.  The 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     77 

boys  were   locked    up    in   the  first  and   second  class 
compartments,  and  the  train  started  immediately. 

Dr.  \Vinstock,  with  Paul  Kendall  and  others,  was 
in  the  coupe  of  one  carriage,  the  front  of  which  con 
sisted  of  windows,  that  enabled  them  to  obtain  a  tine 
view  of  the  country  through  which  they  passed. 
Leaving  the  city,  the  train  entered  a  very  long  tunnel 
cut  through  the  solid  rock,  and  the  travellers  were 
involved  in  darkness,  which  was  only  partially  relieved 
by  the  lamps  in  the  top  of  the  compartments,  which 
were  lighted  for  this  emergency.  The  air  in  the 
tunnel  was  cold  and  damp,  and  there  was  a  general 
closing  of  the  windows  to  exclude  it. 

"  I  don't  think  these  cars  are  any  better  than  ours," 
said  Paul,  as  the  car  emerged  from  the  tunnel.  "  I 
have  heard  a  great  deal  about  first  class  carnages  on 
this  side  of  the  water,  and  that  only  dukes  and  lords 
ever  thought  of  going  first  class." 

"These  carriages  are  rather  inferior  to  those  you 
will  see  in  England,  but  they  are  very  comfortable." 

"  They  are  comfortable  enough,  but  they  don't  ride 
so  easy  as  our  cars." 

"  I  don't  think  they  do.  There  is-  no  spring  to 
them.  They  rest  on  six  wheels,  and  there  is  an  un 
comfortable  jar  which  we  don't  feel  on  our  cars.  But 
the  principal  idea  is  to  keep  '  first  class '  people  by 
themselves.  With  us  a  millionnaire  and  a  common 
laborer  .may  sit  side  by  side  in  a  car ;  here  you  may 
be  pretty  sure  of  your  companions,  so  far  as  social 
position  is  concerned.  There  is  Blarney  Castle,  Paul," 
added  the  doctor,  pointing  to  the  left  through  the 
front  windows  of  the  coupe. 
7* 


^8  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  I  see  it,  sir ;  and  there  is  an  Irish  cabin,"  added 
Paul,  pointing  to  a  one-story  stone  house  with  a 
thatched  roof. 

"  That  is  a  palace,  compared  with  some  you  will 
see  on  the  way  to  Killarney." 

"  I  should  like  to  go  into  one." 

"  Very  likely  you  will  have  an  opportunity  before 
we  return." 

Paul  was  much  interested  in  the  view  from  the 
window,  though  he  did  not  think  Ireland  was  so  fine 
a  country  as  it  had  been  represented  to  him  by  Bridget, 
and  Hannah,  and  Mike,  and  Dan,  who  had  lived  with 
his  father ;  but  an  Irishman  may  be  pardoned  for 
believing  that  his  native  land  is  the  finest  region  in 
the  world,  especially  if  he  has  seen  but  a  small  por 
tion  of  his  adopted  country. 

"  This  is  the  Blackwater,"  said  Dr.  Winstock,  as 
the  train  passed  over  a  stone  bridge. 

"  I've  often  heard  of  it ;  our  Mike  used  to  sing, 
*  Down  by  Blackwater's  side.'  It  isn't  much  of  a 
river." 

"  Here  it  is  not ;  you  must  remember  that  Ireland 
is  but  a  small  country  compared  with  your  own,  and 
you  must  not  expect  to  find  very  large  rivers ;  but  it 
is  quite  a  stream,  and  during  my  former  visit  to  this 
country,  I  spent  a  week  upon  its  bank.  I  went  up  in 
a  steamer  from  Youghal,  at  its  mouth,  to  Lismore, 
and  I  assure  you  it  is  a  very  beautiful  river.  There 
are  plenty  of  old  castles  and  ruined  abbeys  there,  each 
of  which  has  its  legends.  Strancally  Castle,  for  in 
stance,  is  a  ruin  among  the  rocks,  directly  over  the 
river.  The  channel  of  the  river  at  this  place  is  said 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     79 

to  have  a  fabulous  depth,  and  the  water  to  be  reached 
by  a  subterranean  passage,  called  '  Murdering  Hole,' 
through  which  some  cruel  Irish  baron  conveyed  the 
bodies  of  his  victims.  I  didn't  see  the  passage,  and 
I  don't  believe  the  story." 

"  The  man  that  drove  our  car  when  we  went  to 
Blarney,  last  week,  told  me  some  monstrous  stories. 
If  you  were  to  tell  them  to  a  dead  horse,  he  would 
kick  your  brains  out,"  laughed  Paul. 

"  At  Killarney  you  will  hear  plenty  of  '  layginds,' 
but  you  can  use  your  own  discretion  in  believing 
them.  During  my  trip  up  the  Blackwater,  I  visited 
Mount  Mellary  Abbey,  which  is  inhabited  by  a  com 
munity  of  monks,  whose  austerities  of  life  are  hardly 
equalled  in  the  annals  of  monastic  rule.  They  subsist 
exclusively  upon  a  vegetable  diet,  use  no  stimulants, 
not  even  tea,  sleep  but  five  or  six  hours,  work  very 
hard,  and  maintain  perpetual  silence." 

"Don't  they  talk  at  all?" 

~"  Not  among  themselves.  A  few,  who  teach  their 
schools,  do  the  business  of  the  abbey,  and  receive 
visitors,  must  speak,  of  course.  They  have  reclaimed 
a  vast  tract  of  land  near  Cappoquin  by  their  labor. 
Here  is  Mallow  Junction.  We  change  carriages  here, 
I  believe." 

As  the  train  stopped  a  short  time  at  this  station, 
most  of  the  boys  got  out  to  survey  the  premises.  The 
railway  buildings  were  plain,  but  very  substantial. 
There  were  first  class  waiting-rooms,  and  second 
and  third  class  waiting-rooms,  and  refreshment 
saloons,  for  passengers  with  the  same  distinctions 
of  grade,  for  a  first  class  traveller  could  not  eat  his 


So  SHAMROCK  AND    THISTLE,    OR 

luncheon  and  drink  his  coffee  with  a  second  class 
traveller ;  and  when  the  boys  saw  the  people  who 
occupied  the  third  class  accommodations,  they  were 
rather  grateful  for  the  distinction. 

All  the  waiting-rooms,  and  the  "  booking  office," 
were  on  one  side  of  the  double  track ;  but  instead  of 
compelling  passengers  to  walk  over  the  rails,  to  the 
imminent  danger  of  being  run  over  by  an  approaching 
train,  there  was  an  elevated  bridge,  under  which  the 
carriages  passed,  and  travellers  were  forbidden  to 
cross  the  track  except  by  this  bridge. 

While  they  were  waiting,  the  train  from  Dublin 
arrived,  and  the  bells  rang  for  the  Killarney  train  to 
start.  Paul  and  Dr.  Winstock  fortunately  retained 
their  places  in  the  coupe  by  which  they  had  come 
from  Cork,  for  some  of  the  carriages  were  to  proceed 
in  that  direction. 

"  Why,  this  is  a  single  track  ! "  exclaimed  Paul, 
after  they  had  ridden  a  few  miles. 

"Yes  —  why  not?"  asked  the  doctor,  amused  at 
the  earnestness  of  the  young  officer. 

"  Two  or  three  years  ago,  an  English  gentleman 
stopped  a  few  days  at  my  father's.  He  was  con 
stantly  running  down  our  railroads,  and  complaining 
of  single  tracks.  He  said  all  the  railways  in  the 
United  Kingdom  had  two  tracks." 

"  He  wras  slightly  mistaken,  but  he  was  right  in  the 
main.  This  railway  is  a  small  affair  compared  with 
the  one  from  Dublin  to  Cork,  and  there  is  not  much 
travel  upon  it.  'All  the  principal  lines  have  double 
tracks  in  this  country.  You  cannot  deny,  Paul,  that 
some  of  our  most  important  railroads  have  but  single 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    8 1 

tracks,  and  that  hundreds  of  people  have  been  merci 
lessly  slaughtered  by  collisions." 

Paul  could  not  and  did  not  deny  that  this  was  true, 
and  he  was  forced  to  confess  that  the  arrangements 
for  the  protection  of  human  life,  even  in  what  he  had 
seqn  of  Ireland,  were  vastly  superior  to  those  of  the 
United  States. 

"  Here  is  the  bog,  Paul,"  continued  Dr.  Winstock, 
as  he  pointed  to  the  low  lands  on  the  right  hand  side 
of  the  road. 

"  That's  the  poor  man's  coal  mine,"  laughed 
Paul. 

"  Yes ;  and  outside  of  the  cities  it  is  the  only  fuel 
used.  In  some  parts  of  the  United  States,  peat  is  used 
as  fuel.  There  they  dig  it  out  from  ditches ;  here, 
you  perceive,  they  take  a  slice  off  the  top  of  the 
ground,  so  as  to  leave  the  land  level  behind  them. 
You  see  the  turf  spread  out  to  dry,  and  piled  up  in 
heaps." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  there  are  some  more  Irish  cabins. 
They  are  mean  houses." 

"  Very  poor ;  you  would  find  but  one  room  in  those 
houses,  and  in  some  of  them  you  would  see  the  pig 
and  the  cow  sharing  the  quarters  with  the  family  ;  or, 
at  least,  all  living  under  the  same  roof,  and  that  a 
very  small  one." 

u  Isn't  it  strange  they  have  no  fences  here?"  added 
Paul,  who  was  comparing  the  region  with  what  he' 
had  seen  in  Ohio  and  New  England. 

"  They  do  have  them,  but  they  call  them  ditches 
here." 

"  O,  yes !  I  remember  laughing  at  Mike  when  he 


$2  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

called  a.  rail  fence  a  ditch,  out  at  my  father's  country 
place." 

"  Precisely  so ;  and  the  fences  here  are  ditches. 
There  is  one,"  said  the  doctor,  pointing  to  a  field. 
"  They  dig  a  trench,  and  throw  all  the  earth  on  one 
side,  rounding  it  into  shape,  as  soldiers  do  when  they 
construct  earthworks.  Sometimes  they  plant  a  hedge 
on  the  top  of  the  embankment." 

"  I  should  think  a  cow  would  walk  right  over  it." 

"  As  a  general  thing,  they  form  a  sufficient  barrier 
to  prevent  the  passage  of  animals  from  one  field  to 
another ;  if  not,  the  hedge  is  entirely  effectual." 

"  How  many  times  have  I  seen  that  sign  since  we 
left  Cork ! "  said  Paul,  as  they  passed  one  of  the 
frequent  notices  —  "  All  persons  trespassing  on  these 
grounds  will  be  prosecuted  to  the  extent  of  the  law," 
or  something  of  similar  import. 

"  People  here  are  not  allowed  to  enter  other  peo 
ple's  estates  without,  permission.  Land  owners  or 
tenants  are  more  exclusive  in  their  ideas  than  in 
America.  Shooting  and  fishing  are  not  allowed,  as 
they  are  with  us.  The  privilege  of  hunting  and 
catching  the  fish  in  the  streams  is  bought  and  sold. 
In  some  places  a  license  may  be  obtained  for  shooting 
or  fishing  upon  payment  of  a  fixed  sum  ;  in  others,  the 
right  is  held  by  noblemen  and  gentlemen  exclusively 
for  themselves  and  their  guests." 

"  I  read  that  there  were  plenty  of  salmon  in  the 
rivers  in  this  part  of  Ireland,"  added  Paul. 

"  They  are  taken  in  great  abundance  ;  but  no  one 
can  catch  a  fish  without  a  license." 

"  I  think  it  is  a  hard  case,  if  a  fellow  can't  go  a 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     83 

fishing  without  asking  some  two-and-sixpenny  lord  or 
baron,"  said  Paul,  contemptuously. 

"  The  custom  is  certainly  very  different  from  our 
own  ;  but  I  can  see  no  reason  why  the  owner  of  a 
piece  of  land  should  be  compelled  to  permit  all  the 
loafers  and  vagabonds  of  his  neighborhood  to  hunt 
and  fish  upon  his  grounds." 

"  Kanturk  !  "  said  the  guard  —  so  the  conductor  of 
the  train  was  called  —  as  the  carriage  stopped. 

"  Kanturk  —  what  a  name  !  "  exclaimed  Paul. 

"  It  was  formerly  spelled  K-e-a-n-t-u-i-r-k,  '  Kean- 
tuirk,'  meaning  a  boar's  head.  I  suppose  some  great 
Irish  chieftain  killed  one  of  these  animals  here,  some 
time  or  other,  and  the  act  gave  a  name  to  the  place. 
The  ruins  of  an  unfinished  castle  may  be  seen  about 
four  miles  off.  It  was  commenced  by  M'Donough 
Carthy,  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth  ;  but  as  the 
English  oppressors  of  the  country  thought  it  might 
be  dangerous  to  Albion's  rule,  the  builder  was  for 
bidden  to  continue  the  work." 

"  Millstreet,"  said  the  guard,  half  an  hour  later. 

"  Milk  Street !  "  exclaimed  Paul. 

"  No  ;  Millstreet.  Near  it  is  Brisbane  Castle,  built 
by  another  of  the  McCarthys,  and  forfeited  in  one  of 
the  revolutions  of  which  Professor  Mapps  told  you." 

"  What  a  capital  way  they  have  to  manage  their 
passengers  here  ! "  said  Paul.  "  They  don't  let  peo 
ple  into  the  station  unless  they  are  going  by  the  train." 

"  It  is  a  good  plan.  The  government  manages  the 
railroad  companies  better  than  it  does  the  people." 

"  There  are  mountains,"  added  Paul,  after  the  train 
had  started. 


84  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Small  ones  ;  that  pair  nearest  to  us  are  called  The 
Paps.  Behind  it,  farther  off,  are  the  Muskerry  Moun 
tains,  and  those  as  far  as  you  can  see  are  McGilli- 
cuddy's  Reeks,  the  highest  in  Ireland." 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  train  was  ap 
proaching  Killarney,  and  the  boys  were  all  on  the 
lookout  for  the  lakes  ;  though  nothing  could  be  seen 
but  the  mountains  in  the  distance. 

"  There  are  plenty  of  hotels  in  Killarney,"  said 
Paul.  "  Do  you  know  at  which  one  we  stop,  doc 
tor?" 

"  At  the  Railway  Hotel." 

"  That  is  not  near  the  lake,"  said  Mr.  Fluxion,  who 
was  in  the  same  compartment. 

"  No  ;  it  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  lower 
lake :  but  I  think  it  is  the  best  hotel." 

"  I  stopped  at  the  Royal  Victoria  when  I  was  here," 
added  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  Perhaps  I  should  have  gone  there,  if  an  incident 
had  not  occurred  to  prevent  me  from  doing  so." 

"What  was  that?" 

"  I  intended  to  stop  at  the  Lake  Hotel,  which  is  the 
only  one  on  the  border  of  the  lake.  I  was  on  the 
point  of  getting  into  the  omnibus  which  runs  to  that 
hotel,  when  the  driver  told  me  the  house  was  full. 
Just  then  a  runner  for  the  Royal  Victoria  hailed 
me ;  his  manner  did  not  suit  me,  and  I  told  the  por 
ter  to  put  my  trunk  in  the  car  for  the  Railway. 
'  The  Royal  Victoria,  patronized  by  the  nobility  and 
gentry,  and.  the  best  in  the  place,'  said  the  runner, 
'  Railway,'  I  answered,  firmly.  '  You  are  a  fool ! ' 
added  the  bully  runner.  I  looked  at  him  sternly. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     85 

1  'Pon  my  word,  you  are  a  fool ;  and  you'll  find  it  so,' 
repeated  the  ruffian.  I  couldn't  go  to  a  hotel  where 
they  employed  such  blackguards  as  he  was ;  and  1 
shall  do  my  best  to  keep  my  friends  from  going  there. 
I  found  the  Railway  Hotel  to  be  an  excellent  estab 
lishment,  and  for  that  reason  Mr.  Lowington  is  going 
there." 

"  It's  a  very  good  reason,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  That  was  the  only  instance  of  incivility  in  an 
employee  of  a  hotel  in  Europe  that  has  come  to  my 
knowledge." 

The  train  stopped,  and  the  boys  hastened  to  get  out 
of  the  carriages. 

"  Lake  Hotel,"  shouted  a  porter. 

"  Royal  Victoria  !  "  said  a  tall,  dark-visaged  fellow. 
"  Royal  Victoria,  sir?"  addressing  Dr.  Winstock. 

"  No  ;  you  gave  me  Royal  Victoria  enough  the  last 
time  I  was  here,"  replied  the  doctor,  curtly. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir  ;  but  what  do  ye  mane  be 
that?" 

"  You  called  me  a  fool  the  last  time  I  was  here ; 
and  for  that  reason  this  party,  about  a  hundred  in 
number,  will  stop  at  the  Railway  Hotel." 

"  'Pon  me  sowl,  you  were  a  fool,  thin.  I  say  it 
again  ;  you  are  a  fool !  "  added  the  runner,  angrily. 

"  See  here,  my  hearty,"  interposed  Boatswain  Peaks, 
as  he  took  the  ruffian  by  the  collar.  "  I  don't  allow 
any  man  to  speak  like  that  to  the  doctor." 

"  Take  your  hand  off,"  said  the  runner,  his  Irish 
blood  stirred  by  the  incident.  "  Take  your  hand  off*, 
or  I'll  black  yer  two  eyes." 

Peaks  twirled  the  fellow  round,  and  pitched  him 
8 


86  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

towards  the  door  of  the  station-house.  He  sprang 
forward,  and  if  a  couple  of  the  constabulary  had  not 
interfered,  there  would  doubtless  have  been  a  fight. 

Mr.  Lowington  reproved  the  boatswain  for  touching 
the  bully,  whom  the  constables  threatened  to  arrest 
if  he  did  not  instantly  leave  the  station-house.  There 
was  no  need  of  omnibuses  for  the  party,  for  the  Rail 
way  Hotel  was  but  a  few  rods  from  the  depot.  Each 
student  had  a  small  bag,  containing  his  night  shirt, 
his  comb  and  brushes,  and  other  small  articles ;  but 
the  crew  of  the  Young  America  carried  but  little 
luggage.  As  the  boys  approached  the  hotel,  they 
were  astonished  at  the  elegant  grounds,  adorned  with 
beautiful  gardens  around  it,  while  the  building  itself 
was  large  and  imposing.  An  arrangement  had  been 
made  with  the  landlord  by  letter  for  the  accommoda 
tion  of  the  ship's  company  ;  and  the  large  numbers, 
so  early  in  the  season,  did  not  produce  a  panic.  Ex 
tra  beds  had  been  put  up  for  the  boys. 

Before  entering  the  hotel,  the  boatswain's  whistle 
piped  the  boys  into  line,  and  the  beggars  and  tatter 
demalions  of  Killarney  began  to  gather  to  witness  the 
unwonted  sight ;  but  they  were  driven  from  the  yard 
by  a  small  squad  of  the  constabulary,  who  had  been 
summoned  to  the  premises  for  the  protection  of  the 
party.  The  lines  filed  into  the  hotel,  and  up  stairs, 
where  the  rooms  where  assigned  to  the  students.  A 
lunch  was  ready  in  the  coffee-room  for  them,  of  which 
they  partook,  and  then  went  out  to  see  the  town.  It 
was  a  dirty  place,  filled  with  beggars,  runners,  — 
often  called  "  touters"  in  the  United  Kingdom,  —  and 
vagabonds  anxious  to  serve  as  guides. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.     87 

The  streets  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town  were 
densely  packed  with  small  Irish  hovels,  and  the 
Celtic  language  was  heard  on  every  hand.  It  is  said 
that  a  considerable  portion  of  tlje  people  of  the 
County  of  Kerry  speak  only  the  Irish  language.  The 
houses  were  dirty,  and  the  men,  women,  and  children 
were  filthy,  to  a  degree  which  the  students  had  never 
seen  even  at  the  Five  Points  in  New  York.  The  men 
wore  knee  breeches  and  iron-bound  brogans  —  just  as 
they  are  sometimes  seen  emerging  from  emigrant 
ships  in  America.  As  the  students  walked  through 
this  part  of  the  town,  they  were  assailed  by  beggars 
on  every  side,  and  were  compelled,  in  self-defence,  to 
retreat.  The  business  streets  of  the  place  were  more 
respectable,  but  it  was  impossible  to  escape  the  men 
dicants. 

Continuing  the  walk  a  little  farther,  they  came  to  the 
grounds  of  the  Kenmare  estates,  and  from  filth,  pov 
erty,  and  wretchedness  they  were  transported  by  a 
vision  of  loveliness,  for  nothing  could  be  more  at 
tractive  than  the  domain  of  this  nobleman.  The  earl 
has  an  income  of  seventy  thousand  pounds  a  year,  or 
three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  His  tenants 
and  his  laborers  live  in  the  most  abject  poverty,  the 
latter  receiving  from  five  to  seven  shillings  a  week 
for  their  services.  Truly  the  contrasts  of  wealth  and 
poverty  are  tremendous  in  this  nobility-ridden  land. 
More  than  one  of  the  students,  as  they  gazed  upon 
the  miserable  Irish  hovel,  and  then  at  the  magnificent 
grounds  around  Kenmare  House,  thanked  God  that 
they  were  not  born  in  Ireland. 

"  It's  a  fine  country  to  emigrate  from,"  said  Pel' 
ham,  as  his  party  returned  to  the  hotel. 


88  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"What  are  those  large  buildings,  doctor?"  asked 
Paul,  as  they  stood  on  the  front  steps  of  the  Railway. 

"•  One  is  a  poorhouse,  and  the  other  an  Insane  Asy 
lum.  That  large  establishment,"  continued  Dr.  Win- 
stock,  "  is  called  the  Union  Workhouse,  and  contains 
about  four  hundred  paupers.  Such  establishments  are 
styled  simply  '  Unions.'  " 

"  When  shall  we  go  to  the  lakes?  We  haven't  even 
seen  them  yet." 

"  To-morrow  morning.  It  is  dinner-time  now," 
replied  the  doctor. 

Many  of  the  hotels  at  watering-places,  like  Killar- 
ney,  have  a  table  d'hote,  though  such  an  institution  is 
almost  unknown  in  the  cities  of  the  United  Kingdom. 
At  the  Railway,  the  hour  was  half  past  six ;  and 
though  Dr.  Winstock  objected  to  a  hearty  dinner  at 
this  time  in  the  day,  he  was  obliged  to  submit. 
"  Mine  host "  followed  the  French  fashion.  He  not 
only  called  his  soup  "  potage,"  his  fish  "  poisson," 
and  his  salmon  "  saumon,"  but  every  guest  was 
obliged  to  eat  by  programme.  After  soup  and  fish, 
every  dish  on  the  bill  of  fare  was  passed  to  each 
diner,  and  it  was  half  past  seven  before  the  boys  could 
4' see  the  thing  through."  They  were  tolerably  pa 
tient,  however,  for  the  food  was  a  change  from  that 
to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  on  board  of  the 
ship.  At  an  early  hour  the  party  retired,  sleeping  on 
shore  for  the  first  time  since  they  left  their  native  4and. 

They  were  tired  enough  to  sleep  without  rocking. 
The  boys  were  permitted  to  turn  out  in  the  morning 
at  their  'own  pleasure,  and  before  sunrise  some  of 
them  were  exploring  the  neighborhood,  while  others 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    89 

slept  till  seven  o'clock,  wearing  away  the  fatigues  of 
the  preceding  day.  Breakfast  at  an  English  or  Irish 
hotel  is  a  very  different  affair  from  the  same  meal  in 
the  United  States.  Hot  biscuit,  buckwheat  cakes, 
corn  bread,  and  the  varieties  of  fish,  flesh,  and  fowl, 
cooked  in  every  conceivable  style,  as  in  the  large 
hotels  of  our  own  country,  are  not  known.  A  plain 
breakfast  consists  of  tea,  or  coffee,  and  bread  and  but 
ter,  to  which  the  guest  may  add  a  chop,  steak,  or 
eggs,  by  paying  an  extra  price.  On  a  side-table  in 
*  the  coffee-room  are  usually  arranged  a  few  cold  dishes 
—  a  boiled  ham,  a  leg  of  mutton,  a  fowl,  and  pasties. 
The  visitor  generally  goes  to  this  table  himself,  and 
cuts  out  such  as  he  wants. 

Mr.  Lowington,  feeling  that  the  students  needed 
something  more  substantial  than  bread  and  butter, 
had  made  a  special  arrangement  with  the  landlord, 
and  the  party  were  supplied  with  chops,  steaks,  and 
boiled  eggs  without  limit,  to  fit  them  for  the  heavy 
work  of  the  day. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  crew  were  piped  in  front  of 
the  hotel,  and  the  plans  for  the  day  were  announced. 
The  excursion  was  to  include  a  trip  through  the  three 
lakes  ,in  the  boats,  and  a  walk  of  four  Irish  miles 
through  the  Gap  of  Dunloe.  There  were  ninety-six 
persons  in  the  party,  besides  Boatswain  Peaks,  and 
they  were  divided  into  two  equal  companies,  one  of 
which  was  to  proceed  in  cars  to  the  Gap,  and  the 
other  in  the  boats  to  the  vicinity  of  Lord  Brandon's 
cottage,  at  the  head  of  the  upper  lake,  where  the  two 
parties  were  to  nieet  and  have  a  lunch  at  about 
twelve  o'clock.  At  this  point,  those  who  had  cema 
S* 


90  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

round  through  the  Gap  were  to  take  the  boats,  and 
return  by  the  lakes,  while  the  others  were  to  proceed 
through  the  Gap  by  the  same  route  the  first  had 
taken,  riding  home  in  the  cars,  which  were  to  wait 
for  them  at  Kate  Kearney's  Cottage. 

By  this  plan  both  parties  would  have  an  oppor 
tunity  to  explore  the  three  lakes,  and  observe  all  the 
objects  of  interest  in  the  Gap.  The  day  was  bright 
and  clear,  and  the  boys  anticipated  a  splendid  time  ; 
for  not  a  few  of  them  had  consulted  the  guide-books, 
and  obtained  some  idea  of  the  scenes  they  were  to 
visit. 

Dr.  Winstock  and  Mr.  Fluxion  had  both  been  the 
round  of  the  Gap  and  the  Lakes,  and  knew  the  place 
and  the  people.  The  surgeon  suggested  to  Mr.  Lo\v- 
ington  that,  as  the  boatmen  on  the  lakes  were  de 
prived  of  a  job  by  the  bringing  of  the  gig  and  cutters, 
they  might  make  trouble.  The  principal  consulted 
the  landlord  on  this  subject,  and  paid  him  a  handsome 
fee  for  the  boatmen  of  the  Railway  Hotel,  who  alone 
had  any  claim  upon  the  party ;  and  "  mine  host " 
promised  that  his  employees  should  not  disturb  him, 
either  by  threats  or  solicitations.  Doubtless  he  kept 
his  word,  but  the  trouble  came  from  another  quarter. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.   9! 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   GAP    OF   DUNLOE. 

TWELVE  cars  were  drawn  up  near  the  hotel  fof 
the  use  of  the  shore  party,  and  the  young  tars, 
in  the  highest  of  spirits,  leaped  into  their  places. 
The  principal  and  the  surgeon  had  seats  in  the  cars, 
while  Mr.  Fluxion  and  several  of  the  professors  went 
with  the  lake  company.  Dr.  Winstock  contrived  to 
have  Paul  Kendall,  who  was  a  prime  favorite  with 
him,  at  his  side  in  the  forward  car,  while  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton,  the  better  to  overlook  his  charge,  occupied  a 
place  in  the  rear  vehicle. 

The  procession  passed  through  the  principal  street 
of  the  town,  in  which  its  appearance  excited  the 
curiosity  of  the  people,  and  roused  the  beggars  from 
their  transient  lethargy.  But  no  notice  was  taken  of 
the  vagrants,  and  passing  the  magnificent  Catholic 
Cathedral,  and  the  spacious  workhouse,  or-Union,  the 
tourists  obtained  their  first  view  of  the  lower  lake, 
which  is  called  Lough  Leane.  There  was  certainly 
nothing  very  remarkable  about  it,  though  it  was  a 
very  pretty  sheet  of  water. 

"  I  don't  think  that  is  much,"  said  Paul. 

"  It  is  all  low  land  down  here,  and  you  see  none 
of  the  beauties  of  the  lakes.  Wait  till  you  reach  the 


92  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

upper  lake,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  be  satisfied,"  re« 
plied  the  doctor. 

"  I  am  quite  interested  in  the  sights  on  shore.  It 
seems  to  me,  Dr.  Winstock,  that  the  Unions  in  Ire 
land  are  bigger  than  the  palaces." 

"  The  mystery  to  me  is,  that  they  are  no  larger ;  for 
I  should  think  all  the  laboring  people  would  sooner 
or  later  need  a  home  in  the  almshouse.  Most  of 
these  people  work  for  about  five  shillings,  or  a  dollar 
and  a  quarter  a  week  —  men  with  families ;  and 
though  the  pig  may  pay  the  "  rint,"  and  the  cow  feed 
the  babies,  there  seems  to  be  but  little  left  to  pay  the 
other  expenses  of  the  family.  If  they  can  get  a  poor 
piece  of  meat  on  Sunday,  they  are  lucky.  There  are 
the  ruins  of  Aghadoe  Church,  Paul,"  continued  the 
doctor,  pointing  to  the  top  of  a  hill. 

The  party  stopped  for  a  few  minutes  to  explore  the 
ruins  of  the  church  and  castle,  which  had  probably 
been  the  residence  of  a  bishop,  though  nothing  au 
thentic  was  known  in  regard  to  them.  The  boys 
were  not  much  interested  in  the  ruins  or  the  antiqui 
ties  of  the  place  ;  and  though  Professor  Mapps  gave 
a  learned  disquisition  on  history,  his  hearers  were 
rather  impatient  under  it. 

The  ride  of  eight  miles,  however,  through  the 
country  was  full  of  interest.  They  had  an  opportu 
nity  to  see  the  country  residences  of  some  of  the 
gentry,  as  well  as  the  hovels  of  the  poor.  Occasion 
ally,  as  they  passed  one  of  the  latter,  a  woman,  or 
a  squad  of  boys  and  girls,  would  start  out  from 
their  dens,  and  charge  upon  the  cars,  begging  for  a 
"  pinny,"  with  the  usual  tale  of  a  sick  father,  a  dead 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    93 

mother,  or  starving  children.  In  one  instance  a  wo 
man  ran  after  the  cars  for  more  than  half  a  mile, 
trying  to  present  to  any  of  the  party  a  bunch  of 
heather  flowers.  At  last  Mr..Lowington  gave  her  a 
couple  of  pennies,  which  she  picked  up,  but  still  pur 
sued  the  car,  insisting  that  he  should  take  the  bou 
quet,  which  he  did,  and  she  returned  panting  to  her 
cabin. 

When  the  procession  reached  a  cross-road  within 
a  mile  or  two  of  the  Gap,  a  small  regiment  of  guides, 
mounted  on  ponies,  as  they  called  them,  —  though 
most  of  the  animals  were  full-sized  horses,  —  be 
sieged  the  party. 

"  Have  a  pony,  your  honor,  to  ride  through  the 
Gap,"  said  one  to  the  doctor. 

"  We  shall  walk  through,"  replied  the  surgeon. 

"  Bedad,  your  honor,  it  is  foor  Irish  miles  through 
the  Gap,  and  your  honor  could  niver  shtand  it.  Ye 
shall  have  the  harse,  and  meself  will  go  wid  yees, 
and  pint  out  all  saynery,  for  six  shillings." 

"  No  ;  we  prefer  to  walk." 

"  It's  a  lahng  walk ;  and  you*  honor  could  niver 
shtand  it." 

"  I'll  try." 

"  Take  the  harse  for  five  shillings,  your  honor." 

"  I  don't  want  him." 

"  Sure,  the  young  gintlemin  will  faint  wid  the 
walk." 

"  They  can  stand  it,  I  think,"  laughed  the  doctor. 

"  Bedad,  your  honor  shall  take  the  harse  for  foor 
shillings,"  added  the  persistent  fellow,  in  a  confiden« 
tidl  whisper. 


94  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR. 

*'  No ;  I  don't  want  him  at  any  price.  Go  on, 
driver ;  don't  stop  here  any  longer,"  said  the  doctor 
to  his  Jehu,  who  was  disposed  to  favor  the  applicants. 

While  this  "  solitary  horseman"  blarneyed  on  one 
side  of  the  car  there  were  two  more  on  the  opposite 
side,  and  each  of  the  vehicles  was  beset  by  from  two 
to  four  of  the  guides.  They  were  all  alike  unsuccess 
ful,  for  Mr.  Lowington's  plan  did  not  admit  of  their 
being  employed,  as  he  was  unwilling  to  trust  the  boys 
on  horseback.  The  line  went  forward  again,  but  the 
importunate  guides  were  not  to  be  got  rid  of  so  easily. 
They  pursued  the  cars,  galloping  their  horses  from 
one  to  another,  so  eager  that  they  seemed  to  be  in 
great  danger  of  overriding  each  other.  Prices  went 
down  to  two  shillings,  without  any  effect,  and  the 
assailants  were  not  shaken  off  till  they  were  very  near 
the  Gap. 

"  God  bless  your  honor,  but  I'm  a  poor  widdy  wo 
man,  with  siven  shmall  childrin,  and  niver  a  bit  for 
'em  t'  ate,"  shouted  a  ragged  woman,  as  she  rushed 
up  to  the  car  in  which  Dr.  Winstock  was  seated. 
"  Give  me  a  pinny,  your  honor,  for  I  live  in  the  Irish 
Castle,  —  there  it  is  bey  ant ;  "  and  she  pointed  to  a 
miserable,  dilapidated  shanty,  not  more  than  four  feet 
high,  and  hardly  more  in  length  or  breadth,  and  look% 
ing  like  a  very  mean  pig-sty. 

"  The  Irish  Castle  !  "  replied  the  doctor.  "  That's  a 
very  good  joke,  and  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  her  hire." 

He  gave  her  a  penny,  and  Paul  gave  her  another. 

"  Thank  yer  honor,"  cried  she,  picking  up  the 
money.  "  Take  me  posy,"  she  added,  presenting  a 
bunch  of  heather  flowers  to  Paul,  "  to  remimber  tho 
lady  of  the  Irish  Castle  by." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    95 

At  the  side  of  the  car  was  a  b'oy  of  fifteen,  who  had 
run  there  for  the  preceding  mile,  begging  a  job  to 
guide  the  gentlemen  through  the  Gap,  to  point  out 
the  "  saynery,"  and  tell  .all  the  "  layginds."  His  per 
severance  at  last  won  the  doctor,  and  he  was  engaged. 
His  name  was  Dan  Hartnett ;  he  was  barefoot,  and 
his  clothes  hardly  covered  his  body ;  but  he  was  full 
of  Irish  wit  and  vivacity. 

"  Beyant  ye  see  Kate  Kearney's  Cottage,"  said  the 
driver,  pointing  to  a  one-story  house,  much  superior 
to  the  ordinary  buildings  of  the  poor.  At  this  place 
the  boys  all  got  out,  and  were  presently  assailed  by 
dealers  in  bog  wood  and  arbutus  ornaments,  combs, 
paper-cutters,  and  similar  articles,  and  by  women 
with  merchandise  of  more  doubtful  utility. 

"  Have  a  shmall  sup  of  mountain  dew  wid  goatsh 
milkye?"  said  a  woman  to  Paul  Kendall,  as  he 
jumped  down  from  his  seat. 

This  woman,  Dan  told  him,  was  the  granddaughter 
of  the  veritable  Kate  Kearney,  the  heroine  of  the 
Irish  song :  — 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  Kate  Kearney, 
Who  lives  by  the  Lakes  of  Killarney?" 

Probably  the  original  Kate  was  a  myth,  and  her 
pretended  descendant  used  the  name  as  an  induce 
ment  for  people  to  trade  with  her. 

"  Mountain  dew  !  "  replied  Paul.     "  What's  that?" 

"  The  poteen,  to  be  sure,"  added  the  representative 
of  Kate  Kearney. 

"  What's  poteen?"  asked  Paul. 

"  Sure,  don't  you  know  what  poteen  is ! "  laughed 
the  woman.  "  Isn't  it  whishkey?" 


96  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Then  I  don't  want  any,"  answered  Paul,  de 
cidedly. 

"  Whishkey  and  goatsh  milkye  is  an  iligant 
dhrinkye  for  a.  young  gentleman  wid  such  foine 
clothes,"  she  continued,  glancing  at  Paul's  brilliant 
uniform. 

"  No  whiskey  for  me." 

"  It's  very  loight  and  noice,"  interposed  Dan,  who 
evidently  wanted  a  sup  himself. 

"  I  don't  want  any*" 

Mr.  Lowington  soon  found  out  what  the  suspicious 
bottles  contained,  even  without  any  information  from 
the  surgeon,  though  it  is  quite  possible  that  a  few 
of  the  boys  tasted  the  intoxicating  beverage.  The 
principal  directed  Dr.  Winstock  to  proceed,  and 
sternly  ordered  the  students  to  take  their  places  in  the 
cars.  After  riding  about  half  a  mile  more,  the  pro 
cession  halted,  for  vehicles  could  go  no  farther.  At 
this  point  the  scenery  was  becoming  wild  and  pic 
turesque.  It  was  now  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  fore 
noon,  and  the  carmen  were  directed  to  wait  at  this 
point  for  the  other  party.  The  students  in  the  cars 
had  endeavored  to  obtain  some  information  from 
these  men  in  regard  to  objects  of  interest  on  the  route, 
but  it  was  impossible  to  understand  half  they  said  on 
account  of  the  "  rich  brogue  "  they  used. 

The  driver  of  Paul's  car  was  full  of  fun,  and  anx 
ious  to  tell  all  he  knew,  which  was  not  much.  Like 
all  his  class,  he  seemed  to  be  studying  out  some  way 
to  make  an  extra  sixpence  or  shilling.  When  another 
car  approached,  the  driver  invariably  hailed  him  in 
a  loud  tone. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND,    97 

"How  are  you,  Patsey?  I  see  you  are  in  for  a 
grah-too-ity ! "  was  the  usual  cry ;  at  any  rate,  the 
"  gratuity "  was  always  rung  in,  apparently  for  the 
purpose  of  reminding  his  passengers  that  an  extra 
shilling  was  expected  of  them. 

In  the  passage  through  the  Gap  it  was  arranged 
that  Dr.  Winstock  should  lead  the  way,  and  the  prin 
cipal  bring  up  the  rear.  The  boys  were  not  to  be 
confined  to  any  particular  order  of  march,  and  the 
line  was  to  move  very  slowly  and  rest  frequently. 
Before  the  party  started,  Professor  Mapps  collected 
them  under  the  shadow  of  an  overhanging  rock,  and 
proceeded  to  give  them  a  lesson  in  physical  geog 
raphy,  which  included  a  description  of  the  Gap  of 
Dunloe. 

It  is  a  wild  and  narrow  mountain  pass,  between 
McGillicuddy's  Reeks  on  the  one  side,  and  Tomies 
and  Purple  Mountains  on  the  other.  It  is  about  four 
miles  in  length,  and  bounded  on  each  hand  by  the 
high  mountain  sides,  which  in  some  parts  are  per 
pendicular  steeps.  Through  the  Gap  runs  the  River 
Loe,  a  small  but  rapid  stream,  which  in  different 
places  expands  into  five  sheets  of  water,  called  to 
gether  the  Cummeen  Thomeen  lakes,  each  of  which 
has  its  individual  name. 

"  Before  us  is  the  Cosaun  Lough,"  said  the  pro 
fessor,  as  the  procession  moved  up  the  Gap. 

"  It's  nothing  but  a  puddle,"  laughed  Paul. 

"  Lakes  are  on  a  small  scale  in  Ireland,"  replied 
the  doctor. 

"  A  shilling  for  the  poother,  your  honor,  and  we'll 
fire   two   shots   till   ye   hear   the   aycho,"    shouted   a 
9 


98  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

man,  rushing  excitedly  up  to  the  surgeon,  who  was  in 
the  van. 

u  Fire  away  !  "  replied  Dr.  Winstock. 

The  man,  with  another,  had  a  couple  of  small  iron 
cannons,  about  a  foot  in  length,  which  they  discharged 
when  their  fee  was  insured.  The  effect  was  really 
sublime,  and  from  the  lofty  crags  came  back  the 
echoes  of  the  gun,  repeated  several  times.  The  boys 
were  delighted  with  this  exhibition  of  the  reverberat 
ing  peculiarity  of  the  pass  and  two  more  shots  were 
fired  to  satisfy  them. 

At  Kate  Kearney's  Cottage  a  bugler  had  been  en 
gaged  to  enable  the  party  to  listen  to  the  echoes  of  his 
strains.  Several  musicians  of  this  kind  find  employ 
ment  in  awaking  the  echoes  of  this  wild  region  for 
the  gratification  of  tourists.  He  blew  a  long  blast  on 
his  instrument,  which  was  five  or  six  times  repeated 
by  reverberation  in  different  places,  the  first  time 
nearly  as  loud  and  clear  as  the  original  sound ;  then 
less  distinctly,  till  the  last,  which  was  very  faint. 

As  Paul  and  Dr.  Winstock  tramped  cheerfully 
along  the  path  at  the  head  of  the  line,  Dan  told  them 
the  "  layginds,"  and  pointed  out  the  famous  places. 
Now  he  called  their  attention  to  the  Eagle's  Nest, 
a  high  cliff,  at  the  top  of  which  lived  the  majestic 
bird  ;  and  then  he  pointed  down  into  the  lake,  where 
some  saint  had  imprisoned  some  demon.  He  was 
full  of  improbable  stories. 

Beyond  the  first  lake  they  crossed  a  stone  bridge, 
beneath  which  the. waters  of  the  stream  madly  dashed, 
and  came  in  sight  of  Black  Lake. 

"  Forninst  that  lake,  your  honor,  St.  Patrick  put 
down  the  lasht  shnake  in  Ireland,"  said  Dan. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     99 

"  Is  the  snake  there  now  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  Av  coorse  he  is." 

From  the  bridge  they  saw  a  couple  of  the  constab 
ulary  on  the  path  at  the  side  of  the  lake.  Just  ahead 
of  the  party  were  two  girls,  who  had  kept  near  the 
tourists  since  they  left  the  cars.  Each  of  them  had  a 
bottle  of"  mountain  dew,"  and  another  of  goat's  milk. 
Dan  claimed  that  one  of  them,  a  pretty,  brisk,  and 
witty  girl,  full  of  fun  and  nonsense,  was  the  "  colleen 
bawn  ; "  but  doubtless  a  dozen  of  them  took  the  same 
name  for  interested  purposes.  She  made  a  great  many 
vain  efforts  to  sell  her  "  poteen,"  but  without  success. 
Then  she  proposed  to  give  a  sixpence  for  a  shilling, 
and  finally  offered  her  photograph,  labelled  "  Black- 
eyed  Bridget,"  for  sale.  Paul  bought  one,  and  still 
keeps  it  in  remembrance  of  the  Gap  of  Dunloe. 

"  Whisht  now,  Bridget,"  said  Dan  to  the  wild  girl. 
"  Beyant  is  the  conshtables." 

She  gave  a  timid  glance  in  the  direction  of  the  lake, 
and  seeing  that  the  officers  were  approaching,  she  and 
her  companion  fled  up  the  steep  mountain  side,  and 
disappeared  among  the  rocks  and  shrubs. 

"  What  does  that  mean  ?  "  asked  Paul. 

"  The  conshtables  beyant  are  lookin  for  the  gurdls 
that  sills  the  poteen.  It  is  agin  the  law  to  sill  widout 
a  license,  and  sorra  bit  of  a  license  these  gurdls  has." 

As  the  party  paused  on  the  bridge,  the  officers  joined 
them.  They  were  very  civil  men,  intelligent,  and  dig 
nified  in  their  bearing.  Dr.  Winstock  said  something 
about  the  excise  law,  and  one  of  them  explained  the 
nature  of  their  duties  in  the  pass,  and  some  of  the 
tricks  to  which  the  girls  resort  to  escape  detection. 


IOO  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

He  thought  Dan  could  give  them  valuable  informa 
tion,  if  he  was  so  disposed  ;  but  the  guide  stoutly  pro 
tested  that  he  knew  nothing  about  their  business. 

On  the  bank  of  the  Black  Lake  was  a  blind  fiddler, 
who,  at  the  approach  of  the  party,  struck  up  "  Yankee 
Doodle."  He  was  attended  by  his  wife,  who  gave 
him  his  clew  to  the  nationality  of  the  tourists ;  and 
the  peasantry  are  remarkably  shrewd  in  detecting  an 
American,  wherever  they  find  hin.  The  blind  man 
played  and  sang,  and  the  echoes  of  his  song  were 
clearly  returned  from  the  cliffs  on  the  other  side  of 
the  water.  The  bugler  played  Kate  Kearney,  and  it 
seemed  as  though  his  double  was  on  the  other  side  of 
the  lake  playing  the  same  air.  Then  Dan  Hartnett 
did  something  to  bring  out  the  echoes. 

"  How  are  you,  Paddy?"  shouted  he. 

" —  are  you,  Paddy?"  responded  the  echo. 

"  You  ould  rogue  !  " 

"  —  ould  rogue  !  " 

"  You're  a  dirty  blackguard  !  " 

"  —  dirty  blackguard  !  " 

"  You  always  will  have  the  lasht  wurrud." 

"  —  the  lasht  wurrud." 

"  That's  a  very  fine  echo,  but  not  so  wonderful  as 
one  I  have  heard  of  somewhere  in  Ireland,"  said  Dr. 
Winstock. 

"  What  was  that,  sir?"  asked  Paul. 

"  '  How  are  ye,  Misther  Echo? '  calls  Paddy." 

"  '  Moighty  well,  I  thank  ye  :  how  are  ye  yourself, 
Paddy?'  replies  the  echo." 

"  That  was  certainly  a  very  wonderful  one,  and  there 
seem  to  be  none  of  that  kind  in  die  Gap  of  Dunloe," 
laughed  Paul. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    IOJ 

Having  passed  the  constables,  the  party  were  again 
joined  by  the  girls  with  the  whiskey  and  goat's  milk. 
They  seemed  to  be  so  much  pleased  with  the  appear 
ance  of  the  young  gentlemen  in  their  fine  uniforms, 
that  they  were  unwilling  to  leave  them,  and  they  hov 
ered  on  the  flanks  of  the  line  till  they  reached  the 
upper  lake  ;  but  they  did  not  sell  any  "  mountain  dew," 
though  they  disposed  of  a  few  photographs,  and  per 
haps  received  the  free  gift  of  a  few  pennies  from  some 
of  the  young  tars,  who  from  their  small  store  of  three 
shillings  could  not  afford  to  buy  the  pictures. 

The  scenery  of  the  Gap  was  sufficiently  attractive 
to  gain  and  keep  the  attention  of  the  boys.  At  one 
place  the  bugler  played  a  tune,  and  at  another  the 
cannon  men  fired  their  guns,  and  demanded  payment 
for  the  "  poother."  From  one  end  of  the  pass  to  the 
other,  there  were  men,  women,  and  children  using 
their  utmost  efforts  to  obtain  a  penny,  a  sixpence,  or  a 
shilling,  but  only  a  few  of  them  were  successful.  At 
the  appointed  time  the  procession  halted  at  a  romantic 
spot  on  the  upper  lake,  where  the  boat  party  had 
already  arrived.  As  the  two  divisions  of  the  ship's 
company  discovered  each  other,  they  gave  three  rousing 
cheers.  The  boys  mingled  together,  and  began  to  tell 
their  adventures.  Dan  received  two  shillings  from 
Dr.  Winstock,  and  was  cordially  recommended  to  Mr. 
Agneau,  the  chaplain,  who  had  come  up  in  the  gig. 

The  lunch  which  had  been  provided  by  the  landlord 
of  the  hotel,  and  sent  up  by  the  fleet,  was  now  served 
out  to  the  boys  ;  but  Mr.  Lowington  found  that  some 
one  had  made  a  blunder,  and  sent  ale  for  the  party 
to  drink.  The  principal  would  not  permit  it  to  be 
9* 


102  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

touched  by  the  boys,  and  the  bottles  were  given  to 
guides,  boatmen,  and  other  natives  who  thronged  the 
spot. 

"  I  suppose  we  shall  have  a  better  time  the  rest  of  the 
way  than  we  had  coming  up  the  lakes,"  said  Wilton, 
as  he  seated  himself  on  the  grass  with  a  sandwich  in 
his  hand. 

"  I  had  a  good  time  in  the  pass,"  replied  Pelham, 
the  fourth  lieutenant,  who  sat  near  him. 

-  "  You  are  an  officer,  and  won't  have  to  row,"  added 
Wilton  :  "  a  twelve  mile  pull  is  no  joke." 

"  You  took  it  easy  all  the  way." 

"  I  suppose  we  did." 

tf  What's  that?"  suddenly  demanded  Pclliam,  as 
Wilton,  while  in  the  act  of  stretching  himself  on  the1 
grass,  dropped  the  key  of  the  safe  from  his  pocket. 

Wilton  quickly  picked  it  up,  and  thrust  it  back  into 
his  pocket,  and  was  covered  with  confusion  at  the  ac 
cident. 

"What  key  is  that?"  demanded  Pelham,  in  a  low 
tone,  so  that  none  but  Wilton  could  hear  him. 

"  It's  an  old  thing  I  had  to  make  a  cannon  with. 
I  am  going  to  use  it  for  a  whistle  in  the  Gap.  They 
say  the  echoes  there  are  a  big  thing.  Do  you  know 
anything  about  them?"  replied  Wilton,  as  indifferently 
as  he  could. 

"  Where  did  you  get  that  key?"  repeated  Pelham. 

"  O,  it's  an  old  thing  I  had.  They  say  there's  going 
to  be  a  row  down  below,  Mr.  Pelham.  Have  you 
heard  anything  about  it?" 

"  There's  going  to  be  a  row  on  board  the  ship,  when 
you  retuvn,  about  that  key.  Do  you  think  I'm  a  baby, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    1 03 

that  you  can  cheat  me  like  that?  Why  don't  you  tell 
me  where  you  got  that  key  ?  " 

"  I  brought  it  with  me  from  home." 

"  Perhaps  you  did  —  you  can  tell  that  to  the  marines." 

"  I  did  —  honor  bright." 

"  It's  a  safe  key." 

"I  don't  know  —  is  it?" 

"  Let  me  see  it." 

"  I  don't  want  to  show  it  here,  where  somebody  will 
see  it,  and  be  suspicious,  as  you  were.  It's  all  right, 
but  I  don't  like  to  be  accused  of  anything  I  know 
nothing  about." 

"  I  suppose  not,"  sneered  Pelham.  "  If  L  mistake 
not,  I  heard  Mr.  Lowington  asking  the  doctor  if  he 
had  seen  the  safe  key,  just  before  we  left  the  ship. 
I  think  you  can  give  him  some  information,  and  per 
haps  you  would  like  to  have  me  introduce  you  to  him." 

"  This  key  has  nothing  to  do  with  him." 

"  Let  me  see  it." 

"  Not  here.  I  will  show  it  to  you  when  we  are 
alone." 

"  Wilton,  you  are  up  to  something,"  continued  the 
fourth  lieutenant,  shutting  one  eye,  and  gazing  at  the 
culprit  through  one  corner  of  the  other. 

"•  I've  got  an  idea,"  added  Wilton,  laughing ;  for, 
finding  the  officer  was  not  disposed  to  be  severe,  or 
virtuous,  like  Paul  Kendall,  he  had  by  this  time  con 
cluded  that  it  would  be  best  for  him  to  take  Pelham 
into  his  confidence. 

The  fourth  lieutenant  had  been  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Chain  League,  and  Wilton  knew  that  he  was 
not  satisfied  with  the  result  of  that  enterprise.  Though 


104  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

Pelham  had  barely  escaped  being  drowned  in  the 
winding  up  of  the  conspiracy,  that  event  seemed  to 
have  made  no  particular  impression  upon  his  mind. 
In  a  word,  Wilton  felt  that  the  lieutenant  was  one  of 
"  our  fellows,"  and  if  he  did  not  conclude  to  join  the 
new  enterprise,  he  would  not  expose  him. 

"  What's  the  idea?"  demanded  Pelham,  curiously. 

"  Have  you  finished  your  lunch,  sir?  If  you  have, 
we  will  walk  up  here  a  little  way,  where  others  can't 
hear  us,  and  I  will  tell  you  something  about  it." 

"  Come  along,"  said  Pelham,  rising  and  walking 
away,  with  Wilton  at  his  side.  "Now,  what's  the 
idea  —  talk  fast,  for  you  will  start  soon  on  your 
tramp." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  think  about  it,  Mr.  Pelham, 
but  some  of  the  fellows  believe  we  are  not  treated  just 
right,"  Wilton  began. 

"  What's  the  matter  now?  " 

"  About  the  money,  I  mean.  You  didn't  think 
Lowington  had  any  right  to  take  our  money  away 
from  us  when  we  were  on  the  passage  ;  but  it  seems 
to  me  the  shoe  pinches  worse  now  than  it  did  then." 

"  Go  on,  go  on.!  "  interposed  Pelham,  impatiently. 
"  Don't  spin  a  yarn,  but  tell  me  squarely  what  you  are 
up  to." 

"  About  the  money,  I  mean  ;  to  give  us  three  shil 
lings  to  spend  in  three  days !  My  father  gave  me 
fifteen  pounds,  and  he  didn't  mean  I  should  go  about 
like  a  beggar." 

"  Well,  officers  are  treated  no  better  than  seamen, 
so  far  as  money  is  concerned." 

"  I'm  going  to  have  my  money,  and  spend  it  as  I 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    105 

want  it.  When  it  is  all  gone,  my  father  will  give  me 
as  much  more  as  I  ask  for." 

"  You  mean  that  you  have  the  key  of  Mr.  Lo wing- 
ton's  safe  in  your  pocket,  and  you  intend  to  help  your 
self,"  added  Pelham. 

"  That's  just  what  I  mean.  Of  course  I'm  not  going 
to  take  anything  that  don't  belong  to  me,  but  I'm  bound 
to  have  what  does  belong  to  me.  If  you  would  like 
your  own  money,  you  have  only  to  tell  me  so,  and  you 
shall  have  it." 

"  The  money  will  be  missed,  and  the  fellows  will 
be  searched." 

"  We  are  going  in  for  a  good  time  on  our  own  ac 
count,  when  we  get  the  funds." 

"  Who  are  '  we '  ?  " 

"  Ike  Monroe  and  I.  You  and  he  are  the  only 
fellows  that  know  anything  about  it.  You  won't  let 
on  —  will  you?" 

"  Of  course  not,"  replied  Pelham,  promptly  ;  and 
the  answer  was  very  encouraging  to  Wilton.  "  What 
are  you  going  to  do?" 

"  We  are  going  to  have  a  good  time.  We  are  going 
to  leave  the  ship  just  as  soon  as  we  get  the  money,  and 
before  Lowington  has  a  chance  to  look  for  it." 

"What  then?"  asked  Pelham,  excitedly;  for  the 
scheme  seemed  to  commend  itself  to  him. 

"  We  shall  take  the  train  for  Dublin,  and  if  we 
can't  get  off  at  Cork,  we  shall  leave  when  the  ship 
gets  to  Dublin,  and  then  go  to  London.  We  shall 
have  a  jolly  time,  you  had  better  believe.  What  do 
you  say  to  it?" 

u  How  many  fellows  know  about  it,  did  you  say?" 


IO6  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,   OR 

"  You  are  only  the  third  one." 

"  Don't  mention  it  to  another  one." 

"  You  will  be  one  of  the  party  then  ?  " 

"  I  will,  perhaps,  if  the  thing  is  well  managed. 
I  don't  mean  to  be  caught  and  be  brought  back  to 
the  ship  in  disgrace.  If  I  get  away  from  her,  I 
shall  never  come  back.  I  agree  with  you,  Wilton, 
about  the  money.  I  never  felt  so  much  like  a  beggar 
as  I  have  since  we  came  on  this  excursion.  I  have 
never  been  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of  the  principal 
in  taking  our  funds  from  us.  I  think  I  will  go  with 
you,  but  I  want  to  know  more  about  it  before  I  go  in." 

"  Party  for  the  Gap,  form  in  the  path,"  said  Mr. 
Fluxion,  and  the  conference  for  the  present  was  ended  ; 
but  Wilton  felt  that  it  was  a  lucky  accident  which  had 
enabled  the  fourth  lieutenant  to  discover  the  key  of 
the  safe. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    IO1] 


.CHAPTER   VII. 

THE    BOATMEN   OF   KILLARNEY. 

THOUGH  it  was  early  in  the  season  when  the 
ship's  company  of  the  Young  America  made 
the  tour  of  the  Gap  and  the  lakes,  there  was  a  con 
siderable  number  of  tourists  present.  Each  of  the 
principal  hotels  has  from  six  to  twelve  boats,  and 
employs  from  twenty  to  thirty  oarsmen  for  the  ac 
commodation  of  their  guests.  ^  The  boats  are  very 
good  ones,  built  like  a  ship's  long-boat.  They  are 
well  painted,  and  kept  neat  and  dry.  In  the  bow 
each  carries  the  British  flag,  with  the  name  of  the 
hotel  to  which  the  craft  belongs  upon  it.  The  rowt 
ers,  though  they  are  of  the  lowest  class  of  the  Irish 
peasantry,  are  stalwart  fellows,  well  trained  at  the 
oars,  and  are  neatly  dressed  in  white  frocks,  with 
hats  bearing  the  name  of  the  hotel  in  gilt  upon 
them.  Like  all  the  common  people,  the  study  of 
their  waking  hours  is  to  make  an  extra  shilling  or 
sixpence,  and  they  do  not  let  their  passengers  escape 
without  many  very  broad  hints,  and  often  direct 
appeals  for  the  "  gratuity."  They  are  paid  by  the 
hotels,  whose  proprietors  discountenance  any  begging 
of  this  kind. 

The  landlords  of  the  hotels  usually  make  the  ar- 


I08  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

rangements  for  their  own  guests,  providing  the  cars, 
boats,  and  lunches  for  the  trip,  and  charging  the 
items  in  the  bill  of  the  tourist.  The  rates  are  cer 
tainly  reasonable,  especially  as  a  single  car  and  a  sin 
gle  boat  accommodates  three  or  four  persons,  among 
whom  the  expense  is  divided.  It  is  usual  for  visit 
ors  to  club  together,  not  only  to  reduce  the  charges, 
but  for  the  sake  of  each  other's  company. 

One  of  three  persons  paid,  in  1865,  as  his  propor 
tion  of  the  expenses  of  the  excursion  we  have  de 
scribed,  for  the  car,  three  shillings  and  fourpence ; 
foi  the  boat,  pulled  by  two  men  twenty-four  miles, 
occupying  the  whole  day,  two  shillings  and  sixpence ; 
for  the  lunch,  two  shillings ;  and  for  fees  to  guides, 
&c.,  two  shillings  and  sixpence ;  making  the  total 
expense  to  each  person  ten  shillings  and  fourpence, 
or  about  two  dollars  and  a  half. 

With  these  boats  the  Young  America  party  had 
nothing  to  do  ;  but  they  saw  several  of  them  at  the 
head  of  the  upper  lake.  There  was  one  from  the 
Royal  Victoria,  with  a  party  of  ladies  and  gentle 
men.  As  the  students  embarked  in  the  gig  and  cut 
ters,  the  oarsmen  of  this  boat  made  some  remarks 
which  evinced  ill  feeling,  and  which  attracted  the 
attention  of  Dr.  Winstock.  He  knew  that  these  men 
were  very  tenacious  of  their  privileges  as  the  boat 
men  of  the  lakes.  He  told  Paul  that  when  he  was 
going  down  the  lakes  in  his  former  visit,  he  had 
expressed  his  surprise  that  no  steamer  was  em 
ployed.  "Atrah,  we'd  breakye  her,"  said  one  of 
his  rowers. 

The  gig,  with  Dr.  Winstock  and  Paul  in  the  stern, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    lO^ 

and  a  bugler  and  pilot  in  the  fore  sheets,  was  to  lead 
in  the  passage  down,  and  the  cutters  were  to  follow  in 
single  line.  While  the  Royal  Victoria  boatmen  were 
still  growling,  the  gig  put  off  from  the  shore,  and 
the  eight  juvenile  oarsmen,  the  regular  crew  of  the 
boat,  pulled  the  even  man-of-war  stroke,  which  called 
forth  many  expressions  of  admiration  from  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  on  shore,  who  waved  their  handker 
chiefs  gayly  to  the  young  tars. 

"  This  is  magnificent ! "  exclaimed  Paul,  with  en 
thusiasm,  as  the  boat  receded  from  the  shore,  and 
enabled  him  to  obtain  a  full  view  of  the  beautiful 
lake. 

"This  is  the  finest  scenery  we  shall  see,"  replied' 
the  doctor. 

The  upper  lake  is  about  two  and  a  half  miles  in 
length  by  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  breadth.  It 
contains  twelve  islands,  varying  in  size  from  a  square 
rod  to  an  acre.  From  the  shores  of  the  lake,  in 
many  parts,  the  mountains  rise  abruptly  from  the 
water's  edge,  and  the  forest  reaches  to  its  very 
brink. 

"  Eagle  Island  on  the  right,"  said  the  pilot ;  and 
he  began  to  repeat  the  legend  of  the  place ;  for  there 
is  not  a  cliff  nor  a  corner  in  the  vicinity  which  has 
not  its  story. 

"  And  this  is  Arbutus  Island  on  the  left ; "  and 
that  had  its  story  ;  but  it  derived  its  chief  interest 
from  the  shrub  which  gave  it  a  name. 

The  bugler  blew  a  blast  at  the  points  which  were 
noted  for  their  echoes,  and  the  effect  was  very  pleas 
ing.     There  seemed  to  be  no  opening  at  the  lower 
10 


IIO  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

end  of  the  lake,  and  the  tourists  wondered  where 
they  were  to  find  a  passage  for  the  boats. 

"  When  the  Marquis  of  Watherford  was  here,  I 
wagered  a  bottle  of  whishkey  with  him  that  he 
could  not  tell  where  the  opening  was,"  said  the  pi 
lot,  who  had  now  come  aft  and  taken  his  place  at 
the  tiller  ropes  of  the  gig.  "  I  won  the  wager,  and 
his  lordship  paid  it." 

"  I  don't  see  any  opening,"  said  Paul. 

"  There  it  is  beyant,"  added  the  pilot. 

"  I  don't  see  it." 

"  That  ye  can't,"  laughed  the  pilot ;  "  but  its  be- 
tune  the  rocks  forninst  the  hill  beyant.  I'll  wager 
your  honor  a  bottle  of  whishkey  ye  can't  till  betune 
which  rocks  we  go." 

"  I  shall  neither  give  nor  take  any  whiskey,"  re 
plied  Paul.  "  But  I  think  the  passage  is  between 
the  first  and  second  rocks." 

''  You  see." 

• 

The  gig  passed  the  place  indicated,  and  then,  turn 
ing  half  round,  entered  an  opening  some  distance 
beyond  the  place  Paul  had  indicated. 

"  Your  honor  has  lost  the  wager ! "  exclaimed  the 
pilot. 

"  I  didn't  make  any  wager.  I  never  bet,"  said 
Paul,  rather  indignantly. 

"  Niver  mind,"  added  the  man. 

"  We  settle  it  now,"  interposed  Dr.  Winstock,  who 
realized  that  the  fellow  meant  to  claim  the  wager 
when  he  had  a  better  opportunity.  "  There  used 
to  be  an  association  among  the  boatmen  here  for 
mutual  assistance." 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    Ill 

"  There  is  now,  your  honor.  We  have  a  ball  in  the 
boat-house  to-morrow  night." 

"  Here  is  four  shillings  for  the  society  funds," 
added  the  doctor,  handing  the  pilot  the  money. 
"  The  young  gentleman  does  not  bet,  and  has  noth 
ing  to  do  with  whiskey." 

"  Thank  your  honor."  But  it  was  evident  that  the 
man  was  not  satisfied  with  this  settlement,  espe 
cially  as  the  surgeon  said  he  should  inform  the 
other  boatmen  of  his  little  gift,  in  order  that  the 
money  might  not  be  expended  for  whiskey. 

The  gig,  followed  by  the  cutters,  each  of  which 
was  provided  with  a  guide,  passed  Colman's  Eye, 
and  entered  the  Long  Range,  which  is  a  river,  sev 
eral  miles  in  length,  connecting  the  upper  with  the 
middle  lake.  The  channel  was  narrow,  and  the  view 
on  each  side  was  pleasant,  and  sometimes  approached 
the  sublime.  There  was  a  considerable  current  in 
the  river,  and  the  oarsmen  were  required  to  pull  just 
•enough  to  give  the  boats  steerage  way.  It  was  evi 
dent  that  the  rowers  down  the  lakes  had  a  much 
easier  time  than  those  who  ascended  the  river. 

"  Man-of-war  Rock,"  said  the  pilot,  pointing  to  a 
mass  of  stone  which  bore  a  very  remote  resemblance 
to  the  object  indicated  by  its  name.  "  The  Four 
Friends,"  he  added,  half  an  hour  later,  as  the  boats 
passed  four  small  islands.  "  Beyant  is  the  Eagle's 
Nest ;  we'll  shtop  here,  and  try  the  echoes." 

The  Eagle's  Nest  was  a  rugged  and  precipitous 
mass  of  rock,  rising  seven  hundred  feet  above  the 
river,  full  of  crevices,  in  which  the  eagle  builds  his 
nest.  The  pilot  told  me  story  of  a  man  who,  in 


112  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

attempting  to  rob  the  nest  of  one  of  these  majestic 
birds,  fell  from  the  cliff,  and  "  broke  every  bone  in 
his  body."  The  bugler  played  a  strain  upon  his  in 
strument,  and  the  echo  was  more  remarkable  than 
any  the  tourists  had  yet  heard.  The  call  was  re 
peated  at  least  a  dozen  times,  reporting  back  from 
mountain  to  mountain,  and  from  cliff  to  cliff,  some 
times  loud,  next  fainter  and  fainter,  and  then,  after  a 
pause,  louder  again,  and  finally  dying  away  almost 
insensibly.  At  one  time  the  return  notes  would  come 
back  considerably  modified,  and  then  the  original 
strain  would  be  exactly  repeated.  The  experiment 
was  continued  until  the  boys  were  satisfied,  and  then 
the  boats  proceeded  on  their  way,  stopping  at  a  point 
near  Miss  Plummer's  Island,  where  the  inevitable 
whiskey  and  goat's  milk  bottles  were  offered  to  the 
travellers. 

*'  Now,  we're  comin  to  O'Sullivan's  Punch  Bowl, 
and  here  is  the  Meeting  of  the  Wathers,"  added  the 
pilot. 

"  The  Meeting  of  the  Waters ! "  shouted  Paul, 
springing  to  his  feet. 

"  '  There's  not  in  the  wide  world  a  valley  so  sweet, 

As  that  vale  in  whose  bosom  the  bright  waters  meet ; 
O,  the  last  rays  of  feeling'  "  — 

"  Hold  on,  Paul !  "  exclaimed  Dr.  Winstock,  laugh 
ing.  "  This  isn't  the  place,  and  you  may  spare  yout 
enthusiasm." 

"  Not  the  place !  Isn't  this  the  '  Meeting  of  the 
Waters'  that  Moore  sang  about?" 

*'  No  ;  that  is  in  the  County  of  Wicklow,  on  the 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     113 

east  coast,  where  the  Avon  and  Avoca  Rivers  unite. 
I  have  been  there  ;  and  though  it  is  a  Very  pretty 
spot,  I  don't  think  it  compares  with  this." 

"Now,  my  lads,  mind  your  oars.  The  wather  runs 
very  shwift  here.  Let  'em  hang  and  dhrag  at  the 
side  of  the  boat,"  said  the  pilot,  as  the  gig  ap 
proached  the  Old  Weir  Bridge,  under  which,  and  for 
some  distance  beyond  it,  there  was  a  pretty  smart 
rapid. 

"  Stand  by  to  trail ! "  shouted  Raymond,  the  cox 
swain  of  the  gig,  who  sat  by  the  pilot's  side  ;  and 
the  rowers  lay  upon  their  oars,  ready  for  the  ex 
pected  order. 

"  Now,  we're  comin  into  it,"  said  the  pilot. 

"  Trail ! "  added  the  coxswain  ;  and  in  obedience 
to  the  order,  the  oars  were  thrown  out  of  the  row 
locks,  and  dragged  at  the  side  of  the  boat. 

The  gig  shot  into  the  swift  current.  Her  boV 
seemed  to  drop  down,  as  she  rushed  at  a  furious 
pace  through  the  rapid,  emerging  into  the  middle 
lake. ' 

"  Bcdad  !  but  that  was  foinely  done  !  "  said  the  pilot. 

"  We  know  how  to  handle  a  boat,"  replied  Ray 
mond  ;  "  and  we  don't  mind  a  little  sweep  like  that." 

"  Begorra  !  but  it's  >no  fool  of  a  boatman  that  goes 
through  that  without  getting  broke." 

"  Pooh !  we've  been  through  places  a  hundred 
times  worse  than  that.  These  lakes  are  nothing  but 
puddles." 

"  Troth,  thin,  didn't  the  R'yal  Victoria's  min  say 
ye'd  all  be  broke  whin  ye  come  to  O'Sullivan's 
Punch  Bowl?" 

10* 


114  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    DR 

"  We  arc  all  right,  and  now  the  four  cutters  have 
slipped  through,"  added  Raymond. 

The  pilot  was  rather  vexed  that  the  perils  of  the 
Long  Range,  and  of  the  lakes,  were  not  appreciated. 
The  gig  passed  through  only  a  corner  of  Middle  Lake, 
which  is  also  called  Tore  and  Mucross  Lake.  The 
character  of  its  scenery  is  different  from  that  of  the 
upper  lake,  being  tamer  and  less  picturesque,  but  it 
is  a  lovely  place,  especially  at  the  lower  part,  while 
the  channels  between  Dinish  and  Brickeen  Islands 
and  the  main  land  are  pleasant,  and  even  romantic. 
Through  the  passage  between  the  two  islands  the  boats 
passed  into  Glena  Bay,  which  forms  a  part  of  Lough 
Leane,  or  Lower  Lake,  five  miles  long  and  three  miles 
wide,  extreme  dimensions.  It  is  enclosed  by  moun^ 
tains  on  the  south  and  west,  and  contains  upwards  of 
thirty  islands,  the  largest  of  which  has  an  area  of 
twenty-one  acres. 

There  are  plenty  of  "  layginds "  about  the  great 
O'Donoghue  and  the  McCarthys,  lords  of  the  manor. 
Of  the  former  there  were  two  ;  "  O'Donoghue  of  the 
Glens,"  who  was  a  very  bad  man,  and  "  O'Donoghue 
of  the  Lakes,"  who  was  a  very  good  man.  The  story 
tellers  say  that  once  in  seven  years  there  appears,  in 
the  mists  of  the  early  morning,  the  form  of  O'Don 
oghue  the  good,  mounted  on  a  splendid  white  horse, 
with  the  fairies  attending  upon  his  state,  and  strewing 
his  path  with  flowers.  When  he  comes  to  his  ruined 
residence  everything  is  restored  to  its  former  magnifi 
cence,  and  his  castle,  with  all  its  surroundings,  is  repro 
duced  as  it  was  in  the  ancient  time.  Those  who  dare 
to  follow  him  over  the  lake  may  walk  dry-shod  through 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND  AND   SCOTLAND.     115 

the  deepest  parts,  and  go  with  him  into  the  mountains 
where  his  treasures  are  said  to  be  concealed  ;  and  the 
visitor  will  receive  a  liberal  gift  for  the  boon  of  his 
company.  Before  sunrise  the  'spectral  form  recrosses 
the  lake,  and  disappears  amid  the  ruins  of  his  castle. 

Glena  Bay  is  the  most  beautiful  portion  of  the  lower 
lake,  and  the  boat  squadron  of  the  Young  America 
floated  upon  its  waters,  which  were  sheltered  by  dense 
foliage  on  three  sides.  On  the  shore  opposite  Brickeen 
Island  there  was  a  picturesque  cottage,  which  immedi 
ately  attracted  the  attention  of  the  boys. 

"  Beyant,"  said  the  pilot,  pointing  to  this  cottage, 
"  is  where  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  took  a  lunch  whin 
she  came  to  the  lakes.  Faix,  thin,  there  was  foine 
times  on  the  lakes.  There  was  three  hunder  and  sixhty 
boatsh,  brought  up  from  Cork,  and  Tralee,  and  Valen- 
tia.  Bedad  !  but  it's  bad  vveadther  on  the  lake  below,, 
the  day,"  he  added,  turning  round  and  glancing  at  the 
body  of  the  lake. 

"What  do  we  care  for  that?"  said  Paul,  laughing 
at  the  idea  of  bad  weather  on  a  little  fresh-water  lake. 

"  Bad  weadther  !  Sure  no  boat  can  go  across.  The 
say  is  very  bad  sometimes,  and  boatsh  don't  go  over 
for  two  or  tree  days." 

Paul  laughed  at  the  idea  of  being  deterred  from 
crossing  the  lake ;  nevertheless  a  strong  north-west 
wind  stirs  up  a  sea  which  is  trying  to  the  nerves  of 
fresh- water  sailors.  The  pilot  said  ladies  were  of 
ten  seasick  on  the  passage  from  Glena  Bay  to  Ross 
Island  ;  but  our  young  tars  did  not  give  his  croakings 
a  second  thought.  'The  rowers  lay  upon  their  oars  for 
a  time  to  permit  the  company  to  observe  the  scenery. 


Il6  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Begorra  !  there  comes  the  R'yal  Victoria  boatsh," 
exclaimed  the  pilot,  suddenly.  "  Faix,  they  are  all  full 
of  min." 

There  were  five  boats  flying  the  flag  of  the  hotel 
indicated,  though  there  were  not  more  than  six  or 
eight  men  in  each,  but  in  the  foremost  one  Paul  recog 
nized  the  burly  runner  whom  Boatswain  Peaks  had 
knocked  down  in  the  railroad  station. 

"  I'm  afraid  we  shall  have  some  trouble,"  said  Dr. 
Winstock,  when  Paul  had  called  his  attention  to  this 
bully. 

"  I  hope  not,  sir." 

"  These  boatmen  are  very  jealous  of  their  privileges  ; 
and  you  know  an  Irishman  is  always  as  ready  to  fight 
as  he  is  to  drink  his  whiskey." 

The  hotel  boats  were  approaching  the  gig,  which 
was  at  the  head  of  the  line,  and  it  was  evident  that 
the  boatmen  had  business  with  the  visitors. 

"  Ye  can't  crass  the  lake  beyant  the  day,  sir,"  said 
a  man  in  the  bow  of  the  foremost  boat,  when  it  came 
near  the  gig. 

"Why  .not?"  demanded  Dr.  Winstock. 

"  It's  very  bad,  your  honor,  and  the  boatsh  would  be 
shwamped." 

"  We  will  risk  that." 

"  Pon  me  sowl,  ye  can't  thin !  Don't  ye  see  the 
white  caps  on  the  waves  forninst  the  middle  of  the 
lake?" 

"  We  don't  mind  them." 

"  Sure  ye  will  moind  them  before  ye  go  far." 

"  We  are  used  to  bigger  waves  than  those,"  laughed 
the  doctor. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    II/ 

"  Pon  me  wurrud,  you'll  see,"  added  the  man,  shak 
ing  his  head.  "  Ye'll  want  boatmen  that's  used  to  the 
lake  to  take  ye's  over." 

"  1  think  we  can  get  along  very  well." 

"  Sure,  your  honor  had  no  right  to  come  here  wid 
yeer  own  boatsh  to  take  the  bread  out  of  poor  min's 
moudths,"  continued  the  fellow,  waxing  angry  when 
his  cautions  were  not  heeded. 

This  remark  clearly  introduced  the  real  business  of 
the  boatmen,  and  Dr.  Winstock  prudently  made  no 
reply. 

"  Begorra  !  they'll  kill  ye  all !  "  said  the  pilot,  in  a 
low  tone. 

"  Mr.  Kendall,  you  are  the  ranking  officer  in  this 
boat,  and  I  leave  you  to  manage  this  business,"  added 
the  doctor,  anxiously. 

"  As  we  can't  fight,  I  suppose  we  must  run,"  replied 
Paul,  with  a  smile  which  showed  that  he  did  not  re 
gard  the  danger  as  very  serious. 

"  Very  loike  your  honor  will  do  the  right  thing  by 
us,"  added  the  spokesman  of  the  boats.  "  Give  me 
forty  shillings,  —  that's  eight  shillings  a  boat. for  us, — 
and  we'll  drink  your  honor's  health,  and  wish  ye  long 
life  for  your  honor  and  the  young  gintlemin."' 

"  If  you  want  money,  you  must  see  the  gentleman 
in  the  farther  boat,"  replied  the  doctor,  pointing  to  the 
fourth  cutter,  in  which  Mr.  Lowington  was  a  passenger. 

"Beyant?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Don't  let  'em  go  by  ye's,  b'ys,  till  I  sphake  to  the 
gintleman,"  said  the  fellow,  in  a  low  tone,  to  his  com 
panions. 


Il8  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

The  boat  containing  the  spokesman  pulled  to  the 
rear  of  the  line. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  return  where  we  can  be 
within  hail  of  Mr.  Lowington,"  said  Paul.  "  If  there 
is  to  be  any  trouble,  we  should  keep  close  together." 

"  Very  well,  Mr.  Kendall,  just  as  you  think  best," 
answered  the  doctor. 

The  gig  came  about  and  pulled  to  the  position  of 
the  fourth  cutter.  The  three  cutters  which  had  occu 
pied  the  middle  of  the  line  also  came  about  and  fol 
lowed  the  gig.  By  the  time  the  boatmen  had  come 
within  hail  of  the  fourth  cutter,  her  companions  had 
ranged  up  near  her. 

The  spokesman  proceeded  to  inform  Mr.  Lowington, 
as  he  had  Dr.  Winstock,  that  he  could  not  cross  the 
lake  while  the  waves  ran  so  high,  and  came  by  the 
usual  course  of  "  blarney "  to  his  impudent  demand 
for  forty  shillings. 

"  What  claim  have  you  upon  me  for  forty  shillings  ?  " 
asked  the  principal,  mildly. 

"  Isn't  your  honor  takin  the  bread  out  of  our 
moudths  by  bringing  yeer  own  boats  here?"  said  the 
man;  indignantly. 

Mr.  Lowington  explained  that  only  the  boatmen  of 
the  Railroad  Hotel  had  any  just  claim  on  him,  and 
that  he  had  paid  them  their  full  wages  and  perquisites. 
But  they  were  not  satisfied,  and  insisted  that  the  forty 
shillings  they  demanded  should  be  paid. 

"  I  shall  not  pay  you  a  penny,"  said  Mr.  Lowington, 
decidedly. 

"  'Pon  me  wurrud  you  will,  or  we'll  break  your 
boatsh,"  added  the  spokesman. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    1 19 

"  Sure,  his  honor  won't  mind  forty  shillings,"  inter 
posed  the  pilot  in  the  gig.  "  They'll  kill  the  whole  of 
yes  'f  ye  don't  give  it  to  'em." 

"  I  wouldn't  give  them  a  farthing,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  Nor  I,"  added  Paul. 

"  Mr.  Kendall,"  called  the  principal,  "  come  along 
side,  if  you  please." 

The  gig  was  pulled  up  to  the  fourth  cutter,  and 
Boatswain  Peaks,  by  Mr.  Lowington's  direction, 
stepped  on  boai'd  the  gig. 

"  You  will  lead  the  way  as  before,  with  the  pilot, 
Mr.  Kendall,"  added  the  principal.  "  Let  there  be  no 
quarrel,  and  let  nothing  be  said  or  done  to  irritate 
these  men." 

"  I  will  answer  for  the  gig,  sir,"  replied  the  sec 
ond  lieutenant,  who  at  the  same  time  could  not  help 
wondering  why  Peaks  had  been  ordered  into  his 
boat. 

The  five  hotel  boats  had  pulled  away  a  short  dis 
tance  from  those  of  the  Young  America,  apparently 
for  consultation.  On  board  of  them  there  was  a  con 
fused  jabbering  in  a  strange  tongue  ;  or  at  least  it  was 
so  full  of  the  rich  brogue  that  nothing  could  be  under 
stood.  The  tall  runner's  voice  was  distinctly  heard 
above  the  others,  and  it  was  evident  that  he,  at  least, 
had  some  other  purpose  than  extortion.  He  kept  look 
ing  at  Peaks,  as  though  he  meant  mischief. 

"  That  man  will  kill  you,  boatswain,  if  he  gets  a 
chance,"  said  Dr.  Winstock. 

"  Then  I  hope  he  won't  get  any  chance,"  laughed 
Peaks. 

"  He  will  lay  you  aboard." 


I2O  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  If  he  does,  and  there  is  any  Davy  Jones's  locker  at 
the  bottom  of  this  fresh-water  puddle,  he'll  find  his 
\vay  there." 

"  Give  way,  Mr.  Kendall,"  said  the  principal. 

The  order  was  repeated  by  the  second  lieutenant, 
and  then  by  the  coxswain,  when  the  gig  moved  oft' 
down  the  lake,  the  cutters  following  her  in  their  proper 
order.  But  the  hotel  boats  had  taken  a  position  where 
they  could  intercept  the  little  squadron,  and  when  the 
line  moved  they  pulled  for  the  gig,  apparently  with 
the  intention  of  running  her  down. 

"  Break  her  in  bits  !  "  shouted  the  burly  runner,  who 
had  stationed  himself  in  the  bow  of  one  of  the  boats, 
which  was  in  advance  of  the  others. 

"  Break  up  all !  "  shouted  a  dozen  voices. 

"  This  begins  to  look  serious,"  said  Dr.  Winstock, 
anxiously. 

"  Pull  steady,  fellows ! "  added  Paul,  rising  in  the 
stern  sheets,  and  surveying  the  situation.  "  Keep  her 
as  she  is,  coxswain." 

The  runner's  boat  was  pulled  by  six  oarsmen,  and 
she  quickly  distanced  her  fellows,  which  now  changed 
their  course,  and  made  for  the  three  rear  cutters. 

"  First  cutters,  stand  by  me  !  "  cried  Paul  to  Pelham, 
who  was  the  officer  of  the  boat  next  behind  him,  and 
which  was  in  immediate  peril. 

"  I  will,"  replied  the  fourth  lieutenant ;  and  what 
ever  else  he  was,  he  was  prompt  and  courageous. 

"  Steady !  "  added  Paul,  coolly,  when  the  runner's 
boat  was  within  a  few  yards  of  the  gig. 

"  There's  the  blackguard ! "  shouted  the  bully. 
"  Give  me  a  hoult  of  him,  and  I'll  break  his  sconce  ! " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLANP.    17-1 

"  Hard  a  starboard  !  "  said  Paul,  suddenly.     "  Toss 
-  oars !  " 

Just  as  the  heavy  hotel  boat  was  about  to  crush  into 
the  side  of  the  gig,  the  hitter  turned  short  towards  the 
shore,  with  her  oars  all  up,  so  that  her  assailant  could 
not  foul  them.  At  this  moment  Pelham  was  urging 
the  crew  of  the  first  cutter  to  their  utmost  endeavors, 
for  the  fourth  lieutenant  was  disposed  to  be  belligerent 
under  provocation,  and  he  was  determined  to  have 
"  a  hand  in  the  fight,"  if  there  was  one. 

As  the  gig,  obedient  to  her  helm,  came  about,  and 
forged  ahead  towards  the  shore,  the  bow  of  the  run 
ner's  boat  was  brought  up  to  her  quarter,  so  that  the 
big  bully  in  the  bow  was  close  to  the  seat  occupied  by 
Peaks. 

"  Now,  you  dirty  blackguard,"  roared  the  runner, 
reaching  forward  to  get  hold  of  the  boatswain,  "I'll 
teach  you  manners." 

As  the  fellow  reached  forward,  Peaks  seized  him 
with  both  hands,  and  dragged  him  over  the  bow,  hold 
ing  him  between  the  two  boats.  The  boatswain  was 
almost  as  big  as  his  antagonist,' and  his  muscles  were 
of  iron. 

"  Haul  him  in,  Peaks,"  said  Dr.  Winstock,  fearful 
perhaps  that  the  boatswain  would  carry  out  his  threat 
to  send  the  bully  to  "  Davy  Jones's  locker." 

Before  he  had  time  to  do  that,  or  anything  else,  a 
tremendous  crash  attracted  the  attention  of  all  in  the 
gig.  The  first  cutter,  at  the  top'  of  her  speed,  had 
struck  her  sharp  stem  into  the  broadside  of  the  hotel 
boat.  Her  ribs  and  streaks  snapped  like  pipestems. 
and  in  an  instant  she  was  full  of  water. 
ii 


122  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

"  Let  fall !  Give  way !  "  shouted  Kendall ;  and  the 
gig,  with  Peaks  still  dragging  the  runner  in  the  water, 
shot  ahead  towards  the  shore. 

"  Bowman,  stand  by  with  the  boat-hook,  and  clear 
away  the  wreck ! "  cried  Pelham  in  the  first  cutter, 
which  had  cut  through  and  nearly  run  over  the  hotel 
boat. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    123 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE    KEY    OF    THE    SAFE. 

NOW  stand  out  of  the  way,  Mr.  Kendall,  and 
I'll  snake  this  vagabond  into  the  boat,"  said 
Peaks,  when  the  gig  was  clear  of  the  hotel  craft ; 
and  with  a  vigorous  effort  he  dragged  his  prisoner 
into  the  stern  sheets. 

The  fellow  was  not  a  boatman,  and  it  was  plain 
by  this  time  that  he  had  a  wholesome  dread  of  the 
water.  The  pluck  had  all  gone  out  of  him ;  and 
though  he  looked  ugly,  the  sharp  discipline  he  had 
received  at  the  hands  of  the  stalwart  boatswain 
had  produced  a  salutary  impression  upon  him. 

"  Now,  my  hearty,  if  you  want  to  break  my  sconce, 
it's  just  the  right  time  for  you  to  begin,"  said  Peaks, 
as  he  tossed  his  captive  upon  one  of  the  thwarts. 

"  Don't  provoke  him,  Mr.  Peaks,"  interposed  Dr. 
"VVinstock. 

"  It's  him  that's  provoking  me,  sir.  It's  hard  work 
for  me  to  keep  my  hands  off  him ;  but  I'll  obey  or 
ders.  What  will  I  do  with  the  baggage  now?" 

"  Let  him  alone  where  he  is.  How  is  it  with  the 
men  in  the  stove  boat?  Do  they  need  any  assist 
ance  ?  " 

"  They  are  doing  well  enough  —  holding  on  to  the 
wreck,"  replied  Peaks. 


124  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  I  don't  think  it  would  be  safe  to  take  them  into 
the  gig,"  added  Paul.  "  They  are  too  quarrelsome 
to  be  in  the  same  boat  with  us ;  besides,  the  rest 
of  the  boatmen  had  better  look  out  for  them  in  pref 
erence  to  injuring  us."  ' 

•"As  long  as  they  are  not  in  peril  of  drowning, 
we  will  not  meddle  with  them,"  continued  the  doctor. 
"  The  villains  haven't  stove  any  of  our  boats  —  have 
they?" 

"  No  ;  our  boys  have  pulled  out  of  their  way,  and 
they  can't  get  near  enough  to  break  our  boats,"  an 
swered  Paul.  "  But  I  think  we  had  better  go 
back  and  report  to  Mr.  Lowington.  If  this  fellow 
should  make  any  trouble  —  " 

"  If  he  does,  I'll  pitch  him  overboard,"  inter 
rupted  Peaks,  glancing  at  his  prisoner. 

"  I  should  like  to  have  Mr.  Lowington  say  what 
is  to  be  done  with  him.  Starboard,  coxswain." 

"  Starboard,  sir." 

"  The  hotel  boats  have  given  up  the  chase,"  said 
Paul,  glancing  towards  the  head  of  the  bay.  "  Now 
they  are  pulling  back  to  the  rescue  of  those  on  the 
wreck." 

In  a  few  moments  more,  the  gig  and  the  fourth 
cutter  wei'e  within  a  few  yards  of  each  other,  and 
the  oarsmen  of  all  the  boats  ceased  rowing. 

"What  have  you  there?"  asked  Mr.  Lowington, 
as  he  discovered  the  runner  in  the  gig. 

"  This  is  the  man  that  made  all  the  trouble.  He 
attempted  to  lay  violent  hands  on  Mr.  Peaks,  and 
Mr.  Peaks  dragged  him  out  of  his  own  boat  into 
ours,"  replied  Paul. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    125 

"What  boat  was  stove?"  asked  Mr.  Lowington, 
quietly. 

"  The  six-oar  hotel  boat.  She  was  trying  to  run 
us  down,  when  the  first  cutter  went  into  her  and 
stove  her  side  through." 

"  Give  my  regards  to  Mr.  Pelham,  and  say  that  I 
am  greatly  obliged  to  him  for  his  prompt  action," 
added  the  principal,  apparently  unmoved  by  the  ex 
citing  event  which  had  just  transpired. 

The  boys  in  the  gig,  who  had  feared  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton  would  not  approve  the  conduct  of  the  fourth  lieu 
tenant  in  smashing  the  hotel  boat,  looked  at  each 
other  and  smiled  significantly.  It  was  a  clear  case 
to  them,  and  they  were  rejoiced  to  have  the  act  ap. 
proved  by  the  highest  authority  in  the  ship's  com 
pany.  Though  Paul,  by  his  good  management,  had 
saved  the  gig  from  destruction,  the  ruffians  in  the 
hotel  boat  were  bent  upon  mischief,  and  in  a  fight 
they  would  have  had  the  best  of  it.  The  smashing 
of  their  boat  made  them  harmless. 

"What  shall  we  do  with  this  man?"  asked  Paul. 

"  Run  in  at  that  point,  by  the  island,  and  put  him 
ashore." 

"Put  me  ashoor  —  is  it?"  exclaimed  the  ruffian, 
jumping  to  his  feet. 

"  Sit  down,  my  hearty  !  "  said  Peaks,  in  such  a 
tone  that  the  fellow  instantly  obeyed. 

"  Sure  that  place  is  moiles  from  ony  house  or  road," 
added  the  runner. 

"  It's  just  the  spot  then  for  one  like  you,"  replied 
Peaks,  in  the  most  consoling  manner. 

"You'll  have  to  pay  for  the  boat  you  broke," 
growled  the  ruffian. 


126  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  I  think  not,"  interposed  Dr.  Winstock.  "  It  is 
plain  to  me  that  the  landlord  of  the  Royal  Victoria 
does  not  countenance  the  conduct  of  his  boatmen, 
and  I  hope  he  will  make  them  pay  for  the  damage 
done  to  his  boat.  So  far  as  our  party  is  concerned, 
Sir  Phelim  M'Guire,  the  magistrate,  whom  I  know 
to  be  a  gentleman  and  a  scholar,  will  settle  the  dif 
ficulty  ;  and  if  he  doesn't  send  some  of  these  vaga 
bonds  to  the  penitentiary  for  their  pains,  he  is  not 
the  man  I  take  him  to  be." 

The  runner,  who  had  a  proper  respect  for  magis 
trates,  did  not  say  anything  more.  He  was  doubtless 
satisfied  that  he  and  his  friends  had  "  waked  up  the 
wrong  passengers,"  when  they  attempted  to  impose 
upon  a  "  Yankee  ship  and  a  Yankee  crew."  Amer 
icans  in  Ireland  and  elsewhere  in  Europe  good  na- 
turedly  submit  to  extortion  and  imposition  ;  but  any 
attempt  to  bully  or  intimidate  them  is  usually  re 
sented  with  Brother  Jonathan's  characteristic  prompt 
ness. 

The  gig  made  a  landing  at  the  point  near  an 
island  called  Darby's  Garden,  and  the  runner  was 
invited  to  go  on  shore.  Peaks  wrestled  with  his 
inclination  to  lay  violent  hands  upon  him,  out  of 
respect  to  the  principal  and  the  faculty. 

"Bad  luck  to  ye!"  exclaimed  the  ruffian,  turning 
to  gaze  at  the  gig  as  it  backed  out  from  the  shore. 
"  I'll  mate  ye  yit." 

"  When  you  mate  me,  I'll  be  there,"  replied  Peaks. 

The  fellow,  vexed  and  angry  at  his  defeat,  picked 
up  a  large  stone,  and  hurled  it  at  the  boat ;  but  for 
tunately  it  fell  short  of  the  mark,  and  dropped  into 
the  water. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    127 

"  If  you  say  the  word,  Mr.  Kendall,  I'll  go  ashore 
and  larrup  that  Greek  till  he  don't  know  his  mother 
tongue,"  said  the  boatswain. 

"  No,  Mr.  Peaks  ;  I  think  not." 

"  We  will  act  only  in  self-defence,"  added  Dr.  Win- 
stock. 

The  gig  came  about  and  resumed  her  position  at 
the  head  of  the  line.  The  hotel  boats  had  gone  to 
the  assistance  of  the  stove  barge,  and  were  now  en 
gaged  in  pulling  in  the  discomfited  crew.  Paul  or 
dered  the  coxswain  of  the  gig  to  give  the  ruffians  a 
wide  berth.  The  enemy  showed  no  disposition  to 
renew  the  battle.  It  had  been  shown  that  the  cutters 
could  pull  two  yards  to  their  one,  and  it  was  useless 
for  them  to  chase.  The  Young  America's  boats  were 
so  well  handled  that,  even  manned  as  they  were  by 
boys,  they  were  more  than  a  match  for  the  hotel 
boats.  The  expedition  therefore  was  permitted  to  pro 
ceed  on  its  course  without  further  interruption. 

"  Bedad  !  I  was  sure  they'd  kill  ye's,"  said  the  pilot 
in  the  bow  of  the  gig,  when  the  squadron  had  fairly 
passed  the  enemy. 

"  We  are  not  so  easily  killed,"  replied  Peaks. 

"  But,  sure,  ye  can't  crass  the  lake  the  day.  Don't 
ye  moind  how  rough  the  weather  is?" 

Peaks  laughed,  and  so  did  the  boys,  at  the  fears  of 
the  pilot,  who  had  hardly  spoken  a  word  since  the 
party  entered  Glena  Bay. 

"  A  tempest  in  a  mud  puddle  !  "  chuckled  the  boat 
swain. 

"  O,  well !  you'll  see,"  added  the  pilot,  ominously. 
"  Don't  ye  see  the  two  hotel  boats  that  came  down 
wid  us  have  put  back  ?  " 


128  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Those  are  fresh-water  boats,"  answered  Peaks. 

"Where  is  the  cascade,  pilot?"  asked  Paul. 

"  Bey  ant,  opposite  the  island  ;  but  ye  can't  go  there 
to-day.  The  wathcr  would  break  the  boats." 

"  We  will  try,  it  at  any  rate,"  replied  the  young 
officer,  as  he  sat  down  in  the  stern  sheets. 

"  I  am  afraid  the  pilot  is  more  than  half  right," 
said  Dr.  Winstock.  "  The  wind  is  fresh,  and  the 
waves  break  on  the  shore  where  we  should  land. 
The  boats  are  liable  to  injury  on  the  rocks." 

"  We  will  look  at  the  place.  What  kind  of  a  cas 
cade  is  it?" 

"  O'Sullivan's  Cascade.  It  is  a  pretty  and  roman 
tic  spot ;  but  it  does  not  compare  with  a  dozen  similar 
scenes  among  the  White  Mountains.  Those  who 
have  visited  Glen  Ellis  Falls  and  the  Crystal  Cascade 
would  not  be  likely  to  linger  long  at  O'Sullivan's  Cas 
cade.  It  is  a  series  of  three  waterfalls,  the  highest 
having  a  descent  of  about  twenty  feet.  The  stream 
flows  in  a  bed  beneath  overhanging  rocks,  the  whole 
overarched  with  foliage  so  that  the  sun  does  not  pen 
etrate  the  recess.  It  is  quite  pretty,  and  if  we  can 
land,  it  would  be  well  to  visit  it ;  but  it  would  not 
be  a  great  loss  if  we  should  fail  to  see  it." 

The  gig  had  by  this  time  got  out  where  the  wind 
had  full  sweep,  and  the  lake  was  quite  rough  ;  but  no 
one  thought  there  was  any  danger,  though  the  head 
sea  occasionally  threw  a  bucket  of  water  into  the 
boat.  It  gave  the  boys  a  hard  pull,  however ;  and 
as  they  had  been  taught  to  do  when  the  work  was 
trying,  they  cheered  themselves  with  a  song,  very- 
much  to  the  astonishment  of  the  pilot,  who  predicted 
that  all  the  boats  would  certainly  go  to  the  bottom. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    129 

Before  the  gig  reached  the  landing-place  for  the 
cascade,  word  was  passed  from  boat  to  boat,  from  Mr. 
Lowington,  to  head  the  squadron  for  Innisfallen 
Island. 

"  Now,  ye  can  see  O'Donoghue's  white  harses,"  said 
the  pilot,  as  the  gig  changed  its  course. 

"  I  see  no  horses,"  replied  Paul. 

"  The  white  waves  is  the  harses,  do  ye's  moind?" 

The  boatmen  on  the  lake  call  them  so  ;  and  it  is  a 
much  more  sensible  idea  than  the  popular  superstition 
in  regard  to  the  animal. 

"  Have  we  seen  any  shamrock  yet,  Dr.  Winstock," 
asked  Paul,  as  the  boat  approached  the  island. 

"  Doubtless  we  have.  It  is  a  kind  of  wood  sorrel, 
not  clover,  as  some  have  supposed.  It  has  three 
leaves  ;  but  there  is  some  doubt  about  the  true 
shamrock,  —  they  don't  know  exactly  what  it  is. 
The  oxalis  acetosella  is  believed  to  be  the  genuine 
plant." 

"  I  don't  see  why  the  Irish  people  should  have 
adopted  it  as  their  national  emblem ;  and  I  don't 
believe  they  would  if  they  had  to  call  it  by  such  a 
jaw-breaking  name  as  that  you  just  mentioned." 

"  Aloore,  the  poet,  in  a  note  to  one  of  his  Irish 
melodies,  '  O,  the  shamrock,'  says  that  St.  Patrick, 
when  preaching  about  the  Trinity  to  the  heathen  in 
Ireland,  used  to  pick  up  a  sprig  of  the  shamrock  to 
illustrate  his  meaning ;  and  perhaps  for  this  reason 
the  plant  was  adopted  by  the  Irish  as  their  national 
emblem." 

"  Where  can  I  find  the  poem  about  the  shamrock?" 
asked  the  young  officer. 


I3O  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  In  Moore's  works  ;  they  are  in  the  ship's  lihrnry. 
Look  among  the  Irish  melodies.  I  remember  a  verse 
or  two :  — 

'  Through  Erin's  Isle, 

To  sport  a  while, 
As  Love  and  Valor  wandered. 

With  Wit,  the  sprite, 

Whose  quiver  bright 
A  thousand  arrows  squandered, 

Where'er  they  pass 

A  triple  grass 
Shoots  up  with  dew-drops  streaming, 

As  softly  green 

As  emeralds  seen 
Through  purest  crystal  gleaming. 
O,  the  shamrock,  the  green,  immortal  shamrock ! 

Chosen  leaf 

Of  bard  and  chief, 
Old  Erin's  native  Shamrock.'  " 

The  story  of  the  poem  goes,  that  Valor  claimed  the 
shamrock,  and  Love  put  in  a  counter  claim ;  but 
Wit  declared  that  the  three  leaves  in  one  plant  typi 
fied  the  union  of  Love,  Valor,  and  Wit." 

The  boats  came  up  alongside  a  kind  of  stone  pier 
on  the  island,  and  the  crews  all  landed.  The  place 
is  certainly  very  beautiful,  and  its  lovely  scenery  fully 
justifies  Moore  in  calling  it  "  Sweet  Innisfallen ; " 
but  its  chief  interest  lies  in  its- historic  associations. 
It  is  covered  with  groves,  lawns,  and  glens,  with 
thickets  of  flowering  shrubs  and  evergreens.  The 
arbutus  and  holly  flourish  here,  and  the  oaks  are 
large  and  luxuriant  in  their  growth. 

On  the  island  are  the  ruins  of  the  Abbey  of  St. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    13! 

Finian,  in  which  an  old  historical  record,  now  cele 
brated  as  the  "  Annals  of  Innisfallen,"  was  found. 
It  was  written  about  five  hundred  years  ago,  and  is 
carefully  preserved  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  connected 
with  Oxford  University.  They  afford  much  valuable 
information  in  regard  to  the  kingdom  of  Munster. 

The  students  wandered  over  the  island,  explored  the 
ruins  of  the  monastery  and  the  cottage.  The  pilot 
pointed  to  a  tree  which  he  said  was  sixteen  feet  in 
girth,  and  to  another  which  was  over  a  tomb,  the  roots 
imbeded  in  the  earth  on  each  side  of  it. 

After  an  hour  spent  on  the  island,  the  boatswain's 
whistle  piped  the  several  crews  on  board  the  boats, 
which  were  now  headed  towards  Ross  Island,  the 
landing-place  of  excursionists  down  the  lake. 

"  It's  a  beautiful  island,"  said  Dr.  Winstock,  gazing 
back  at  the  wooded  shore. 

"  '  Sweet  Innisfallen,  fare  thee  well ; 

May  calm  and  sunshine  long  be  thine; 
How  fair  thou  art  let  others  tell, 
While  but  to  feel  how  fair  be  mine. 

'  Sweet  Innisfallen,  long  shall  dwell 

In  memory's  dream  that  sunny  smile 
Which  o'er  thee  on  that  evening  fell 
When  first  I  saw  thy  fairy  isle ! ' 

So  sang  Moore." 

"  It  seems  to  me  you  know  all  Moore's  poems,  Dr. 
Winstock,"  said  Paul,  laughing. 

"  When  I  was  in  Ireland  before,  I  read  and  re-read 
them  in  the  midst  of  the  scenes  described.  I  remem 
ber  only  a  passage  here  and  there." 

A  pull  of  a  mile  brought  the  boats  to  the  end  of  the 


132  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

cruise,  at  the  ruins  of  Ross  Castle,  which  the  boys 
visited.  A  tower  is  still  standing,  which  the  party  as 
cended,  and  from  the  top  obtained  a  delightful  view 
of  the  lake  and  its  shores.  This  castle  was  built  by 
one  of  the  O'Donoghues.  It  was  the  last  stronghold 
in  Munster  to  surrender  to  the  English  in  1652.  Lord 
Muskerry,  commanding  the  Irish  forces,  having  been 
defeated  in  Cork,  retreated  to  Ross  Castle,  where  he 
held  out  against  the  repeated  assaults  of  the  English, 
until  an  attack  by  water  was  made  upon  his  position. 
An  ancient  Irish  proverb  declared  that  Ross  was  in 
vulnerable  until  it  should  be  invested  on  the  lake  side. 
The  English  general,  being  unsuccessful  in  his  efforts 
to  capture  the  place  with  the  means  at  his  command, 
procured  a  number  of  boats.  The  Irish,  satisfied  that 
the  prophecy  had  been  accomplished  when  they  saw  the 
boats,  which  they  called  ships  of  war,  surrendered  at 
once,  without  another  blow.  Each  of  these  boats  held 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  and  the  general  ordered 
one  of  them  to  seek  a  convenient  landing-place  on 
the  island.  The  garrison,  supposing  an  attack  was 
intended,  immediately  surrendered. 

After  what  had  transpired  at  Glena  Bay,  Mr.  Low- 
ington  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  leave  the  boats 
without  protection,  lest  the  belligerent  boatmen  should 
injure  them  ;  but  Peaks  soon  raised  a  force  of  men, 
including  a  couple  of  the  constabulary,  to  take  them 
to  a  safe  place.  The  cars  ordered  to  convey  the  party 
back  to  the  hotel  were  at  Ross  Castle.  The  students 
were  glad  enough  to  be  relieved  from  the  labor  of 
pulling,  and  took  their  places  in  the  vehicles.  On  the 
return,  they  passed  through  the  demesne  of  the  Earl 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    133 

of  Kenmare,  where  they  saw  his  lordship's  pheasant 
grounds,  his  rabbits,  groves,  gardens,  and  finally  Ken- 
mare  House.  This  nobleman  kindly  allows  strangers 
to  pass  through  his  grounds,  in  various  parts  of  which 
notices  are  posted  forbidding  any  of  his  employees  to 
ask  money  of  visitors.  This  exhibits  a  proper  spirit 
on  'his  lordship's  part ;  but  though  his  employees  do 
not  ask  money  in  words,  they  do  by  their  wistful  looks, 
and  it  is  almost  as  hard  to  resist  the  one  as  the  other. 

The  ship's  company  dined  at  the  Railway  Hotel, 
according  to  the  French  programme  of  mine  host. 
The  exciting  events  which  had  occurred  on  the  lake 
were  duly  reported  to  him,  and  he  promised  to  have 
the  boatmen  properly  punished,  which  probably  he 
never  did.  The  next  day  the  forenoon  was  spent  in 
visiting  Muckross  Abbey,  Tore  Cascade,  and  other 
places  of  interest  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake.  In 
the  afternoon  the  boats  were  placed  upon  the  train, 
and  the  party  returned  to  Cork,  where  the  gig  and 
cutters  were  again  put  into  the  water,  and  the  squad 
ron  pulled  down  to  the  ship.  The  first  grand  excur 
sion  was  finished,  and  the  boys  were  delighted  with  it. 

On  the  day  following  the  return  of  the  ship's  com 
pany  from  Killarney,  Mr.  Lowington  was  permitted 
to  know  the  secret  which  Dr.  Winstock  had  so  zeal 
ously  guarded  when  he  visited  Cork  on  the  day  the 
ship  arrived.  The  silver  plate  came  on  board,  and 
when  the  principal  had  mustered  the  crew  for  purposes 
of  discipline,  Paul  Kendall  stepped  forward  and  pre 
sented  it  as  the  grateful  offering  of  the  students.  Mr. 
Lowington  was  duly  and  properly  surprised,  and  made 
a  very  eloquent  speech  on  the  memorable  occasion. 

12 


134  SHAMRQCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

So  far  as  Ireland  was  concerned,  the  curiosity  of 
the  students  was  satisfied,  and  that  troublesome  impa 
tience  which  had  worried  the  boys  on  their  arrival  had 
worn  away.  They  still  had  London,  Paris,  Edinburgh, 
and  Switzerland  to  look  forward  to,  but  they  were 
content,  most  of  them,  to  take  things  as  they  came. 
They  returned  to  their  studies  with  renewed  vigor, 
and  for  a  week  no  interruption  of  the  regular  academy 
course  was  permitted  by  the  principal,  though  in  this 
time  the  ship  went  round  to  Bantry  Bay,  and  the  boys 
explored  the  wonders  of  Glengariff  during  three  after 
noons. 

On  her  return  from  the  Bantry  cruise,  the  Young 
America  anchored  again  at  the  cove,  to  obtain  the  mail 
for  the  officers  and  crew.  There  was  a  letter  for  nearly 
every  person  on  board  the  ship  ;  but  happily  there  was 
no  unpleasant  news  from  home  to  darken  the  hearts 
of  any.  As  a  mail  for  the  United  States  would  close 
that  night  at  Queenstown,  all  the  boys  were  required 
to  write  to  their  friends  at  home.  Mr.  Lowington  was 
particular  in  this  respect,  and  a  letter  directed  to  his 
parent,  guardian,  or  other  friend,  was  required  of  each 
student,  whether  he  wished  to  write  or  not.  But  most 
of  them  were  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  inform  the 
loved  ones  on  the  other  side  of  the  ocean  of  the  inci 
dents  of  their  travel  on  shore.  While  nearly  all  of 
them  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  regard  and  respect 
of  the  principal,  a  few  grumbled,  and  complained 
especially  of  his  "  tyranny  "  in  doling  out  the  pocket 
money  to  them  in  shillings  and  sixpences.  But  no 
questions  were  asked  in  regard  to  the  contents  of  the 
letters :  it  was  only  necessary  that  a  letter  of  some 
kind  should  be  written. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    135 

Immediately  after  the  return  of  the  ship's  company 
from  Killarney,  Mr.  Lowington  had  renewed  the 
search  for  the  key  of  his  safe.  Though  he  had  a 
couple  of  duplicate  keys,  for  use  in  case  of  loss  or 
accident,  he  was  strenuous  in  his  efforts  to  discover 
the  missing  one.  It  could  not  be  found.  No  one  had 
seen  it ;  no  one  knew -anything  about  it,  for  of  course 
Wilton  and  those  to  whom  he  had  intrusted  his  secret 
did  not  scruple  to  lie  about  it.  Pelham,  who  had  ac 
cidentally  possessed  himself  of  the  fact,  was  not  quite 
•willing  to  embark  in  the  enterprise  proposed  by  Wil 
ton.  He  had  gained  considerable  credit  for  his  prompt 
action  in  smashing  the  hotel  boat  on  the  lake,  and  be 
ing  just  then  in  high  favor,  he  regarded  the  desertion 
rather  coldly. 

When  the  ship  lay  in  Bantry  Bay,  and  only  one 
shilling  was  allowed  to  each  student  for  an  excursion 
to  Glengariff,  his  indignation  was  again  aroused,  and 
he  was  prepared  to  listen  to  the  proposal  of  Wilton. 
On  the  return  passage  to  the  cove  of  Cork  he  found 
an  opportunity  to  question  him  more  particularly  in 
regard  to  his  plans. 

"  What  have  you  done  with  that  key,  Wilton?"  he 
asked  in  a  low  tone,  as  they  met  in  the  waist. 

"  It  is  safe,"  replied  Wilton,  with  a  meaning  smile. 

"  I'll  bet  Lowington  will  find  it  yet,  if  it  is  on  board 
the  ship." 

"  I'll  bet  he  won't." 

"  Where  do  you  keep  it?" 

"That's  telling;  you  advised  me  to  keep  things  to 
myself,  and  I  intend  to  do  so.  Even  Ike  Monroe  don't 
know  where  it  is." 


136  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Won't  you  trust'  your  own  'friends  ?  " 

"  O,  yes ;  but,  you  see,  I  don't  want  to  tempt  them. 
I  don't  mind  telling  you,  but  I  shouldn't  care  to  have 
any  fellow  in  the  steerage  know  where  it  is." 

"  Of  course  I  could  have  blowed  on  you  when  Low- 
ington  was  making  such  a  row  about  the  key." 

"  I  knew  you  could,  but  you  wouldn't.  When  you 
want  your  money,  you  can  have  it,  you  know,"  added 
Wilton,  with  a  smile,  which  seemed  to  be  full  of  con 
fidence  in  his  after-cabin  friend. 

"  Of  course,  when  you  take  the  money  from  the  safe, 
there  will  be  an  awful  row,"  said  Pelham. 

"  To  be  sure  there  will ;  but  I  don't  intend  to  be  on 
board  when  that  row  comes  off.  I  expect  to  be  a  hun 
dred  miles  off  by  that  time." 

"When  are  you  going,  Wilt?"  asked  Pelham,  with 
more  familiarity  than  he  was  accustomed  to  use  in  his 
relations  with  the  crew. 

"Just  as  soon  as  you  are  ready.  I  have  been  wait 
ing  for  you." 

"  I'm  ready  now.  That  last  shilling  at  Glengariff 
broke  my  back." 

"Are  you  ready,  though?" 

"  I  am,  honor  bright.  But  I  don't  see  how  we  are 
to  get  off." 

"  That  will  be  easy  enough.  Ike  Monroe  and  I  are 
in  the  second  cutter,  and  you  can  easily  get  permission 
to  go  ashore  in  her  when  our  boat  is  going." 

"  We  shall  be  in  Queenstown  to-night,  if  the  wind 
holds  fresh.  To-morrow  will  be  mail-day,  and  as  we 
sail  for  Dublin  on  Monday,  the  boats  will  be  con 
stantly  going  ashore,"  continued  Pelham,  musing. 
"But  the  money?" 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    137 

"  Leave  all  that  to  me,"  replied  Wilton,  confidently. 

"  I  would  rather  leave  it  to  you  than  do  the  job  my 
self,"  added  Pelham,  whose  moral  code  was  honor 
rather  than  principle.  "  I  don't  like  that  kind  of  op 
erations." 

"  Why  not?     You  don't  call  it  stealing  —  do  you?'" 

"  Well,  I  don't  know." 

"  If  it  is,  the  receiver  is  as  bad  as  the  thief,"  said 
Wilton,  bluntly. 

u  I  don't  know  that  I  should  exactly  call  it  stealing," 
added  Pelham,  wincing  under  the  remark  of  his  con 
federate. 

"  Of  course  it  isn't  stealing.  That's  taking  what 
don't  belong  to  you.  I'm  going  to  take  what  does 
belong  to  me.  That  money's  mine,  and  I'm  going  to 
have  it.  I  say  Lowington  had  no  more  right  to  bor 
row  my  money  in  the  way  he  did,  than  he  had  to 
borrow  my  head  and  give  me  a  receipt  for  it.  It's  no 
use  of  talking.  What's  mine's  mine,  and  it  belongs 
to  me." 

"  Don't  talk  so  loud,  you  fool,"  said  the  fourth  lieu 
tenant,  impatiently. 

"  It's  a  good  deal  safer  to  speak  right  out.  If  they 
see  you  whispering,  they  know  something  is  wrong. 
Don't  you  suppose  we  can  get  ashore  Monday  morning 
before  the  ship  sails  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  —  why  ?  " 

"  I  can  get  the  money  a  good  deal  better  on  Sun 
day  than  I  can  to-morrow.  Perhaps  we  can  get  off 
on  Sunday  afternoon  or  evening." 

"  I  don't  know.  After  we  come  to  anchor,  I  may  be 
able  to  find  out  something." 

13* 


138  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Well,  keep  your  eyes  wide  open,  and  let  me  kno\v 
just  as  soon  as  you  see  an  opening,"  said  Wilton,  as 
Pelham  walked  off,  at -the  approach  of  another  of  the 
officers. 

"What  was  the  fourth  luff  saying  to  you,  Wilt?" 
asked  Monroe,  a  few  moments  later. 

"  He  is  to  be  one  of  our  party." 

"Pelham?" 

"  Yes  ;  he's  a  regular  nob,  and  we  shan't  lose  any 
thing  by  taking  him  with  us." 

"Are  you  going  to  tell  all  the  fellows  about  the 
key?" 

"  No  one  else.  We  shall  be  off  to-morrow  or  next 
day  ;  so  be  sure  you  don't  leave  your  jacket  on  board 
when  the  second  cutters  are  called  away." 

"  But  what's  the  plan  ?  "  demanded  Monroe,  anx 
iously. 

"  Hang  the  plan  !  Never  mind  that.  We  can't  tell 
anything  about  it  till  the  time  comes,"  replied  Wilton, 
as  he  prudently  left  his  friend,  and  mingled  with  the 
rest  of  the  crew. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    139 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SIXTY   POUNDS   IN   GOLD. 

AT  ten  o'clock  on  Friday  night  the  Irish  pilot  in 
charge  of  the  Young  America  ordered  the 
anchor  to  be  let  go  off  Queenstown,  near  the  berth 
the  ship  had  before  occupied.  After  the  recitations 
had  been  finished  on  the  following  day,  the  students 
were  required  to  write  their  letters.  While  they  were 
thus  engaged,  Mr.  Lowington  passed  through  the  steer 
age,  and  informed  the  boys  that  a  yacht  race  was 
about  to  take  place,  and  the  crew  might  leave  their 
letters  to  witness  the  start. 

Anything  like  a  boat  race  was  enough  to  excite 
the  students  to  the  highest  pitch,  especially  as  they 
were  anxious  to  witness  the  working  of  these  English 
cutters.  All  of  them  tumbled  up  the  hatchway,  leav 
ing  their  writing  materials  on  the  mess-tables.  Five 
yachts  were  in  position,  ready  to  slip  their  moorings 
at  the  signal ;  and  as  the  wind  was  strong  from  the 
south-west,  the  race  promised  to  be  full  of  interest. 
The  students  hastened  up  the  rigging,  securing  avail 
able  places  in  the  tops,  on  the  yards  and  the  rigging, 
to  watch  the  aquatic  contest. 

Mr.  Lowington  and  the  professors  had  placed  their 
chairs  upon  the  top-gallant  forecastle,  for  they  were 


140  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

too  dignified  to  mount  the  rigging,  and  the  officers 
were  on  the  rail.  The  cooks  and  stewards  were  in 
the  fore  rigging,  and  every  person  on  board  had  ob 
tained  the  best  place  he  could  find,  and  all  eyes  were 
directed  towards  the  yachts.  Wilton  stood  on  the 
rail,  leaning  against  the  stretcher  of  the  main  shrouds  ; 
but  he  did  not  seem  to  be  as  much  interested  in  the 
prospective  race  as  his  companions.  He  was  think 
ing  of  something  besides  the  graceful  cutters ;  and 
when  the  signal  for  the  start  was  given,  he  quietly 
slipped  down  from  his  position  to  the  deck,  while  all 
eyes  were  strained  to  take  in  the  movements  of  the 
several  contestants.  After  a  glance  at  the  faculty  and 
the  officers  to  satisfy  himself  that  he  was  not  observed, 
he  moved  over  to  the  steerage  hatch,  and  went  below. 

Every  soul  on  board  was  on  the  spar  deck,  eagerly 
watching  the  race,  and  no  one  was  thinking  of  him. 
He  could  hear  the  cheers  of  the  multitudes  which 
crowded  every  boat  and  vessel  near  the  ship.  Hasten 
ing  to  his  berth,  which  was  close  by  the  ladder,  he 
removed  the  coverlet,  and  thrust  his  arm  into  the 
berth  sack,  which  proved  to  be  the  hiding-place  of 
the  key.  It  was  drawn  from  its  resting-place,  and 
after  a  furtive  glance  up  the  hatchway  to  satisfy  him 
self  that  he  was  still  unobserved,  he  entered  the  main 
cabin,  and  stood  before  the  closet  which  contained 
the  iron  safe. 

Here  an  unexpected  difficulty  occurred  ;  the  closet 
door  was  locked.  But  he  had  gone  too  far  to  retire 
without  an  effort  to  effect  his  purpose.  He  went  into 
the  principal's  state-room,  where  he  found  several  keys 
on  a  nail.  With  them  he  returned  to  the  closet,  and 


YOUNG    AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     14! 

after  trying  several  of  them,  he  found  one  which  fitted 
the  lock.  As  he  opened  it,  a  rousing  cheer  from  the 
ship's  company  above  assured  him  that  everybody 
was  absorbed  in  the  progress  of  the  race.  Inserting 
the  large  brass  key  in  the  key-hole  of  the  safe,  he 
opened  the  door. 

In  a  couple  of  small  drawers  in  the  safe  he  found 
the  money,  one  of  them  containing  the  gold  and  the 
other  the  silver,  each  clone  up  in  small  rolls.  Wilton 
had  tried  to  persuade  himself,  while  contemplating 
this  act,  that  he  was  an  honest  boy ;  that  he  only 
intended  to  take  what  was  his  own :  but  now  that  the 
deed  was  to  be  consummated,  he  had  not  time  to  count 
the  money,  and  take  just  the  amount  which  belonged 
to  him  and  to  the  friends  he  represented.  He  meant 
to  take  enough,  and  he  did.  He  slipped  three  of  the 
rolls  of  gold  into  his  pockets  without  knowing  how 
much  they  contained.  Closing  the  drawers,  and  lock- 
'ing  the  safe  and  the  closet,  he  returned  the  key  of  the 
latter  to  the  nail  in  Mr.  Lowington's  state-room. 

His  heart  beat  violently,  and  his  hands  trembled  as 
he  closed  the  door  of  the  main  cabin,  and  hastened  to 
his  berth  again.  In  spite  of  his  philosophy,  he  was 
not  satisfied  with  what  he  had  done.  He  was  fearful 
of  consequences,  and  he  could  not  help  thinking  how 
dismal  it  would  be  to  spend  a  week  in  the  "  brig," 
instead  of  going  to  London  "  on  his  own  hook."  But 
the  deed  was  done  ;  he  had  the  money,  and  he  had 
the  safe  key,  either  of  which  being  found  upon  him 
would  expose  his  guilt.  He  had  no  further  use  for 
the  key,  and  he  decided  to  get  rid  of  that  at  once. 
His  quarters  were  on  the  starboard  side,  while  the 


142  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

ship's  company  were  all  on  the  port  side.  The  bull's 
eye  in  the  passage  was  open,  and  reaching  his  arm 
through  the  aperture,  he  dropped  the  key  into  the 
deep  waters  of  the  bay.  That  was  gone,  and  it  could 
not  rise  up  to  condemn  him. 

He  was  almost  tempted  by  the  oppression  of  his 
guilt,  and  the  fear  of  detection,  to  drop  the  three  rolls 
of  gold  overboard  ;  but  another  cheer  from  the  rigging 
convinced  him  that  all  hands  were  still  intent  upon 
the  race,  and  he  began  to  reproach  himself  for  being 
"  chickenish."  Then,  as  he  thought  of  travelling 
unrestrained,  with  genial  companions,  to  London  and 
Paris,-  his  evil  purpose  was  confirmed. 

What  to  do  with  the  rolls  of  gold  was  a  trouble 
some  question  to  settle.  But  it  was  Saturday  after 
noon,  and  the  mattresses  would  not  be  aired  again  for 
four  days.  If  they  were,  each  student  conveyed  his 
own  on  deck,  and  he  could  remove  the  gold  for  the 
occasion,  as  he  had  the  key.  The  three  rolls  of  gold 
were  taken  from  his  pocket.  They  were  very  heavy 
for  their  size,  and  he  could  not  resist  the  temptation 
to  open  one  of  them  and  ascertain  its  contents.  He 
was  appalled  to  find  that  it  contained  twenty  sov 
ereigns.  The  whole  amount  abstracted  from  the  safe 
was  therefore  sixty  pounds.  It  was  clear  to  him  that, 
even  by  his  own  theory,  he  had  stolen  at  least  fifteen 
pounds,  for  neither  he  nor  his  companions  for  whom 
he  acted  had  over  twelve  or  fifteen  pounds  on  deposit. 

This  reflection  was  not  a  pleasant  one ;  but  Wilton 
comforted  himself  by  resolving  not  to  spend  any  more 
than  belonged  to  him.  Whether  his  act  was  steal 
ing  or  not,  it  was  too  late  to  restore  the  money  or  any 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    143 

part  of  it  to  the  safe,  for  he  had  thrown  the  key  over 
board.  Rolling  up  the  package  he  had  opened,  he 
placed  the  three  little  bundles  in  the  hair  of  the  mat 
tress,  and  with  his  needle  and  thread,  took  a  few 
hasty  stitches  in  the  rent  he  had  made  to  admit  the 
key.  He  did  not  think  it  would  be  safe  to  go  on 
deck  again,  and  he  took  a  position  behind  the  main 
hatch  ladder,  ready  to  join  the  students  when  they 
came  below. 

Of  course  he  could  only  think  of  the  deed  he  had 
just  done,  and  consider  the  probability  of  being  dis 
covered.  It  was  not  likely  that  Mr.  Lowington  would 
immediately  ascertain  that  the  gold  had  been  taken 
from  the  safe,  which  might  not  be  opened  again  be 
fore  the  ship  arrived  at  Dublin.  But  he  did  not  feel 
secure,  and  he  determined  to  inform  his  companions 
of  what  he  had  done  at  once,  and  get  off  as  soon  as 
possible,  —  that  very  day  if  an  opportunity  was  af 
forded  them. 

The  yachts  went  out  of  the  harbor,  and  disappeared 
beyond  Roches  Point.  ,  The  boatswain's  whistle  piped 
the  students  below  again  to  finish  their  letters.  When 
the  first  squad  of  them  came  down,  Wilton  joined 
them,  and  no  one  observed  that  he  had  not  come 
down  with  them.  In  an  hour  the  letters  were  all 
sealed  and  stamped,  and  put  into  the  ship's  mail-bag, 
which  had  to  be  sent  on  shore  before  five  o'clock. 

"  I've  done  it,"  said  Wilton,  when  he  met  Pelham 
in  the  waist,  after  the  letters  had  been  collected. 

"Done  what?" 

"  Drawn  our  money,"  whispered  the  cunning  op 
erator. 


144  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  No  —  have  you  ?  " 

"  I  tell  you  I  have  ;  don't  you  believe  me?" 

"  I  don't  just  see  when  you  did  it?" 

*'  When  all  hands  were  looking  at  the  race." 

"  How  much?" 

"  O,  never  mind  that  now.  I  got  all  that  belongs 
to  you.  We  must  get  off  at  once  —  to-day,  if  we  can." 

"  All  right ;  I'm  ready,"  replied  Pelham,  eagerly. 

"  Can't  you  get  sent  off  with  the  mail  in  the  second 
cutter?" 

"  I  don't  know." 

*'  Ask  permission." 

"  That  will  show  me  up  just  as  soon  as  we  are 
missed." 

"  No  matter  if  it  does.  What  do  you  care  for  that 
after  you  get  clear  of  the  ship  ?  I  will  tell  Monroe  in 
a  few  minutes,  and  we  will  be  ready  when  the  second 
cutters  are  piped  away,"  said  Wilton,  impatiently. 

"  But  I  don't  know  that  I  can  get  the  command  of 
the  boat." 

"  Try  it,  at  any  rate.  We  rrmst  get  ashore  to-night, 
somehow  or  another." 

"  We  needn't  be  in  such  a  hurry." 

"  If  you  don't  go  to-night,  I  shall  throw  the  gold 
overboard ;  for  I'm  not  going  to  have  it  found  upon 
me." 

"  Don't  do  that ;  if  you  can't  keep  it  safe,  give  it  to 
me  ;  I  have  a  good  place  in  my  state-room  to  keep  it." 

Wilton  was  suspicious,  and  did  not  like  this  idea. 
He  insisted  that  the  plan  must  be  carried  into  execu 
tion  that  day,  or  it  would  be  a  failure. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  after  you  get  on  shore? 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    145 

My  uniform  will  tell  everybody  who  I  am,"  said  the 
prudent  Pelham. 

"  Bother  your  uniform  !  Let  us  get  ashore,  and 
then  we'll  look  out  for  the  rest.  Go  and  ask  the  cap 
tain  at  once  to  let  you  take  the  mail  ashore  in  the 
second  cutter,"  replied  Wilton,  anxiously,  as  he  ab 
ruptly  left  the  lieutenant,  and  sought  his  other  confed 
erate. 

Monroe  was  duly  informed  of  the  progress  which 
had  been  made  in  the  execution  of  the  contemplated 
scheme.  He  had  no  doubts  or  scruples,  and  he  was 
ready  to  leave  the  ship  at  a  moment's  notice.  Pelham 
desired  to  perform  his  part  in  the  enterprise  to  the 
satisfaction  of  Wilton  ;  but  it  would  look  suspicious 
for  him  to  ask  permission  to  convey  the  mail  on  shore, 
and  he  did  not  like  to  do  it. 

"  Whoever  takes  the  mail  ashore  to-night  will  have 
a  good  time,"  said  he  carelessly  to  Paul  Kendall,  who 
was  pacing  the  quarter  deck. 

"  Why  so?"  asked  the  second  lieutenant. 

"  Those  yachts  will  be  coming  back  about  that 
time,  and  the  officer  will  have  a  good  chance  to  see 
them  ;  and  I  think  there  will  be  some  fun." 

"  I  have  just  been  detailed  for  that  duty,"  added 
Paul ;  "  but  I  don't  care  anything  about  it." 

"  You  are  lucky,  as  you  always  are,  Kendall." 

"  Do  you  want  to  go,  Pelham  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  should  like  to ;  but  if  you  are  going,  of 

>urse  that  is  settled." 

"  I  am  not  very  desirous  to  go,  and  if  you  are,  I 
ask  Captain  Gordon  to  give  you  the  order." 

"  O,  no,  Kendall !     It  is  too  bad  to  impose  upon  a 


146  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

fellow  because  he  is  good-natured.  I  won't  take  the 
job  away  from  you." 

"  I  really  don't  care  anything  about  it,  and  I  should 
be  glad  to  have  you  go,  since  you  wish  it,"  said  Paul, 
warmly. 

"  Thank  you,  Kendall.  When  I  can  do  as  much 
for  you,  let  me  do  it,"  added  the  fourth  lieutenant,  as 
politely  as  though  he  had  not  been  meditating  trea 
son  and  desertion.  "  Which  boat  were  you  going  to 
take?" 

"•The  captain  told  me  to  take  the  one  I  preferred. 
He  will  do  you  the  same  favor." 

"  I  prefer  the  second  cutter." 

Paul  walked  over  to  the  starboard  side  of  the  ship, 
where  the  captain  was  "  planking  the  deck "  in  his 
solitary  and  dignified  state,  and,  touching  his  cap,  pre 
ferred  his  request  in  favor  of  his  fellow-officer.  The 
answer  was  satisfactory,  and  half  an  hour  later,  when 
the  occupants  of  the  main  cabin  had  finished  their 
letters,  the  second  cutters  were  piped  away.  Wilton's 
heart  leaped  as  he  heard  the  order,  and  he  rushed  into 
his  mess-room  to  obtain  the  rolls  of  gold. 

It  was  intensely  provoking  at  that  critical  moment 
to  find  Morgan,  one  of  "  the  chaplain's  lambs,"  reclin 
ing  in  his  berth,  opposite  the  one  occupied  by  Wil 
ton.  He  could  not  remove  the  bed-clothes  and  cut 
the  stitches  he  had  put  in  a  couple  of  hours  before 
without -being  observed  by  his  exemplary  messmate. 
He  had  not  a  moment  to  spare.  Pelham  had  not 
notified  him  that  he  had  carried  out  his  part  of  the 
programme,  and  the  call  for  the  second  cutter's  crew 
had  sounded. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     147 

"  Is  that  you,  Morgan?"  said  he,  hurriedly.  "  Mr. 
Lowington  wants  to  see  you  at  once." 

"  See  me  !  "  exclaimed  the  "  lamb,"  springing  out  of 
the  berth,  fearful  that  he  had  done  some  awful  thing. 

"  Yes,  and  be  quick  about  it,"  replied  Wilton, 
sharply. 

"Where  is  he?" 

"  On  the  top-gallant  forecastle :  if  he  isn't  there, 
wait  till  he  comes ;  "  and  Morgan  hastened  to  the 
principal,  dreading  a  reprimand  for  some  infraction  of 
the  ship's  rules. 

Wilton  tore  open  the  rent  in  the  berth  sack  as  soon 
as  Morgan  had  departed,  and  transferred  the  three 
rolls  of  sovereigns  to  his  pockets.  Rushing  up  the 
hatch  ladder,  he  reached  the  gangway  only  a  few 
moments  behind  the  rest  of  the  crew. 

"Who  told  you  I  wished  to  see  you?"  said  Mr. 
Lowington,  within  a  few  feet  of  where  the  chief  cul- 
.  prit  stood ;  and  the  words  sounded  Jike  the  knell  of 
doom  to  him. 

"  Wilton,  sir,"  replied  Morgan,  who  had  gone  to 
the  top-gallant  forecastle  to  report  to  the  principal,  but 
seeing  him  on  the  quarter  deck,  had  concluded  not  to 
wait  for  him. 

"  Wilton,"  said  Mr.  Lowington. 

» 
The  rogue  turned  and  touched  his  hat,  looking  as 
innocent  as  his  guilty  fears  would  permit. 

"  Did  you  tell  Morgan  I  wished  to  see  him?  " 
"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Who  told  you  to  do  so?  " 

"  The  word  from  you  was  passed  below ;  I  heard 
it,  and  took  it  up." 


148  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"From  whom  did  you  take  it?"  demanded  Mr. 
Lowington,  to  whom  the  affair  looked  like  one  of  the 
practical  jokes  which  were  constantly  practised  upon 
"  the  lambs,"  in  spite  of  the  prohibition  of  the  prin 
cipal. 

Wilton  looked,  and  happening  to  see  Adler,  whom 
he  could  trust,  on  the  fore-top-gallant  yard,  took  his 
cue  from  this  circumstance. 

"  Adler,  sir,"  replied  he. 

"Where  is  he?" 

"  On  the  fore-top-gallant  yard,  overhauling  the  bunt 
gasket,  sir." 

"  He  has  gone  aloft  quick,  then.  Pass  the  word  for 
him." 

"  Shall  I  pipe  aboard,  sir?"  asked  the  fourth  lieu 
tenant,  trembling  for  the  safety  of  his  confederate. 

"  You  will  wait  a  moment,  Mr.  Pelham." 

The  word  was  passed  for  Adler,  and  he  came  down 
the  top-gallant  back-stay  with  a  celerity  which  seemed 
to  rob  the  principal's  remark  about  his  speed  in  going 
aloft  of  its  force. 

"  Here,  sir,"  reported  Adler,  touching  his  cap  to  the 
principal. 

"  Did  you  pass  the  word  to  Morgan  as  coming  from 
me?"  asked  Mr.  Lowington,  who  had,  since  Adler 
came  in  sight,  kept  his  sharp  eye  fixed  on  Wilton,  so 
that  he  had  no -chance  to  wink  or  make  any  sign. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  did,  sir  ;  "  replied  Adler  ;  and  the  two 
"  sirs "  he  used  were  some  evidence  to  the  principal 
that  he  was  lying. 

"  From  whom  did  you  take  the  word?" 

"  From  McKeon,  sir." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    149 

"  Return  to  your  duty.    Pass  the  word  for  McKeon." 

McKeon  was  out  on  the  flying-jib-boom,  hauling  in 
a  down-haul,  whose  end  had  fallen  overboard.  He 
came  at  the  summons. 

"  Did  you  pass  the  word  for  Morgan?"  demanded 
the  principal,  sternly,  for  by  this  time  he  compre 
hended  the  game  of  "  our  fellows  ;  "  but  he  was  deter 
mined  to  follow  the  clew  till  it  ended  somewhere. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  McKeon,  promptly. 

"From  whom  did  you  receive  it?" 

"  I  don't  exactly  remember  who  it  was,  sir,"  replied 
he,  looking  about  the  deck. 

"  You  don't !  " 

"  I  do  not,  sir ;  but  I  think  it  was  from  Lynch.  I 
am  pretty  sure  it  was  he ;  it  sounded  like  his  voice." 

"  Where  is  Lynch?" 

"  On  the  main  royal  yard,  sir,"  replied  McKeon. 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  every  one  who  passed  this 
word  has  suddenly  taken  to  going  aloft,"  said  Mr. 
Lowington,  dryly.  "  Pass  the  word  for  Lynch." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Pelham,  showing 
his  watch  ;  "  but  it  is  half  past  four  now,  and  the 
mail  closes  at  five." 

"  Pipe  into  your  boat,  then,  Mr.  Pelham.  Wilton, 
you  will  report  to  me  immediately  on  your  return," 
replied  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  I  will",  sir,"  replied  he,  with  a  sly  wink  at  Monroe. 

The  crew  of  the  second  cutter,  followed  by  their 
officer,  descended  the  accommodation  ladder,  and  took 
their  places  in  the  boat.  Wilton  felt  that  he  had 
escaped  "  by  the  skin  of  his  teeth,"  and  the  gold  in 
his  pocket,  which  had  seemed  to  weigh  a  ton  as  he 
13* 


150  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

stood  at  the  gangway,  now  felt  much  lighter.  He 
Was  prudent  enough,  however,  to  keep  his  own  coun 
sels,  and  not  to  look  at  Pelham.  The  cutter  pulled 
away  from  the  ship,  leaving  Air.  Lowington  still  en 
gaged  in  the  business  of  ferreting  out  the  author  of 
the  practical  joke,  as  he  regarded  it,  which  had  been 
played  off  upon  one  of  the  "lambs,"  as  "  our  fellows  " 
called  the  "  good  little  boys." 

The  principal  was  not  a  victim  himself,  however  he 
may  have  seemed  to  be  to  some  of  the  students.  lie 
had  made  a  note  in  his  memorandum  book  of  each 
name  which  had  been  given  to  him,  and  was  fully 
satisfied  that  the  owner  of  it  had  told  him  a  lie.  He 
expected  to  find  an  end  to  the  chain,  and  to  be  ready, 
by  the  time  the  second  cutter  returned,  to  bring  up 
Wilton  "  with  a  round  turn."  Lynch  came  down 
from  the  royal  yard. 

"  Did  you  pass  the  word  for  Morgan  to  report  to 
me?"  demanded  Mr.  Lowington,  as  the  main  royal 
boy  reported  to  him. 

"  I  think  I  did,  sir." 

"  Don't  you  know?" 

"  We  are  so  much  in  the  habit  of  passing  the  word 
that  we  do  it  without  minding  much  about  it." 

"  I  suppose  so,"  replied  the  principal.  "  As  this 
affair  occurred  within  ten  minutes,  you  will  state  dis 
tinctly  whether  you  did  or  did  not  pass  the  word  for 
Morgan." 

"  I  did,  sir.  I  thought  you  meant  some  time  ago, 
sir." 

"  From  whom  did  you  receive  the  order  ?  " 

"  From  Sanborn,  sir.  I  was  standing  by  the  comb 
ings  of  the  main  hatch,  sir,  just  going  aloft." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     151 

"  Where  is  Sanborn  ?  "     . 

"  He  was  just  going  forward  when  he  gave  me  the 
word.  There  he  is,  sir,  on  the  fore-cross-trees,  look 
ing  out  for  the  yachts." 

"  Pass  the  word  for  Sanborn,"  added  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton,  entering  the  name  of  Lynch  on  his  book. 

The  star-gazer  on  the  cross-trees  came  down,  and 
the  question  was  put  to  him  as  it  had  been  to  the 
others. 

"  I  believe  I  did  pass  the  word,  sir,"  replied  San 
born. 

"  From  whom  did  you  receive  it?" 
I  think  it  was  from  Wilton,  sjr." 

"  Are  you  sure  it  was  from  him?  " 

At  that  moment  McKeon,  who  had  remained  to 
ratch  the  progress  of  the  investigation,  shook  his 
lead  significantly. 

"  No,  sir  ;  it  was  not  Wilton.  It  was  Shuffles,  now 
I  think  of  it." 

McKeon  and  Lynch  were  disgusted  at  the  stupidity 
of  Sanborn,  who  had  only  jumped  "  out  of  the  frying- 
pan  into  the  fire  ;  "  but  Mr.  Lowington  had  backed 
over  against  the  rail,  satisfied  that  the  change  in  the 
reply  had  been  made  on  account  of  some  hint  given 
by  one  of  the  others,  so  that  he  could  see  the  faces 
of  all. 

"  Shuffles  —  was  it?"  said  the  principal. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Sanborn,  who  did  not  dare  to 
equivocate  again. 

"  You  are  very  sure?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Where  is  Shuffles?" 


152  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,   OR 

He  was  in  the  fore-top  with  Mr.  Agneau,  the  chap 
lain  —  an  association  which  boded  dismay  to  the 
rogues.  He  was  sent  for,  and  soon  appeared  with 
his  clerical  friend  at  his  side.  The  question  was  put 
to  him  as  to  the  others.  Shuffles  found  himself  in  an 
awkward  and  unpleasant  predicament.  He  saw  that 
his  shipmates  had  been  "  playing  a  game  "  upon  the 
principal,  and  that  he  was  expected  to  sustain  them. 
Since  the  arrival  of  the  ship  from  the  United  States, 
he  had  behaved  himself  in  the  most  exemplary  man 
ner.  Without  "  putting  on  airs,"  and  without  shun 
ning  his  former  companions,  he  had  frequently  proved 
the  sincerity  of  his  reformation.  It  was  true  he  had 
not  before  been  placed  in  a  situation  in  which  he  was 
required  to  be  loyal  to  the  truth  at  the  expense  of  his 
associates ;  and  it  is  possible  that,  if  the  chaplain  had 
not  been  at  his  side,  thus  reminding  him  of  the  solemn 
promises  he  had  made,  he  might  have  been  recreant 
to  his  new-found  sense  of  duty.  If  he  declined  to 
answer  the  question,  it  would  be  rebellion,  and  it 
would  be  equivalent  to  exposing  his  friends.  He 
could  only  save  them  by  a  lie.  Mr.  Agneau  did  not 
speak  ;  but  the  influence  of  his  presence  was  strong. 

"  I  did  not,  sir,"  replied  Shuffles,  after  some  hesita 
tion. 

"You  did  not  pass  the  word  to  Sanborn?"  re 
peated  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  What  have  you  to  say,  Sanborn  ?  " 

"  I  say  that  he  did." 

"When  was  it?" 

"About  fifteen  minutes  ago,"  interposed  McKeon, 


YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  IRELAND  AND  SCOTLAND.  153 

fearful  that  Sanborn,  not  so  well  informed  as  himself, 
would  make  a  blunder. 

"  You  say  that  Shuffles  is  lying  —  do  you  ?  "  de 
manded  the  principal,  sternly. 

"  I  suppose  he  is.  I  only  know  that  he  gave  me 
the  word  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ago." 

"  Where  was  he  when  he  gave  it  to  you  ?  " 

"  In  the  waist,  sir,"  answered  Sanborn,  who  was 
very  indignant  at  what  he  regarded  as  the  treason  of 
Shuffles. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Lowington,  but  which  is 
the  waist?"  asked  the  chaplain,  who  was  singularly 
ignorant  of  the  nautical  vocabulary,  and  hardly  knew 
the  waist  from  the  quarter-deck. 

"  On  deck,  in  the  middle  of  the  ship,"  replied  Mr. 
Lowington,  with  a  smile  of  pity  for  one  who  had 
been  so  long  on  board  of  the  ship  and  did  not  know 
where  the  waist  was. 

"  I  wished  to  be  quite  sure  in  a  matter  of  so  much 
importance,"  replied  Mr.  Agneau.  "  Shuffles  was 
not  in  the  waist  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ago.  He  had 
been  with  me  where  we  were  found  when  you  sent 
for  him,  over  half  an  hour." 
."Where  was  that?" 

"  In  the  fore-top,"  replied  the  chaplain,  who  was 
fortunately  sure  of  this  term,  though  he  would  not 
have  ventured  to  mention  it  unless  required  to  do  so. 

"  That  is  sufficient,"  continued  Mr.  Lowington,  as 
he  turned  on  his  heel  and  went  aft,  intending,  when 
the  second  cutter  returned,  to  summon  all  whose 
names  he  had  taken,  and  punish  them  as  they  de 
served. 


154  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 


CHAPTER   X. 

THE    VOYAGE    TO    DUBLIN. 

THE  yachts  are  coming ! "  shouted  the  young 
tars,  in  various  parts  of  the  Young  America's 
rigging,  as  the  leading  vessel  in  the  race  appeared  at 
the  entrance  of  the  harbor. 

"  All  hands  on  deck,  ahoy !  "  shouted  the  boat 
swain,  after  he  had  piped  the  call. 

Mr.  Lowington  had  directed  Captain  Gordon  to 
pay  the  winning  yacht  the  highest  compliment  known 
in  the  naval  service  ;  and  he  was  all  the  more  ready 
to  do  this  when  he  discovered  by  the  private  signal, 
that  the  foremost  yacht  was  owned  by  a  gentleman 
who  had  extended  many  courtesies  to  the  officers  of 
the  ship. 

"  Stand  by  to  man  the  yards !  "  shouted  the  first 
lieutenant,  when  the  crew  were  piped  to  muster ;  and 
the  order  was  repeated  by  all  the  officers  at  their  sta 
tions. 

Life  lines  had  been  extended  from  the  port  to  the 
starboard  lift,  about  four  feet  above  each  yard  ;  from 
the  fore-top-gallant  stay  to  the  foot  of  the  fore-mast, 
and  from  the  mizzen-mast  to  the  topping-lift  over  the 
spanker-boom.  When  the  yards  are  manned,  the  sail 
ors  stand  on  these  spars,  and  also  on  the  bowsprit  and 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    155 

spanker-boom,  with  their  arms  extended  on  the  life 
lines,  by  which  they  are  supported  in  their  lofty  posi 
tions. 

The  race  was  a  very  exciting  one,  and  the  leading 
craft  was  only  a  short  distance  ahead  of  two  others ; 
and  all  of  them,  under  every  stitch  of  canvas,  though 
the  wind  was  blowing  fresh,  were  "  roaring"  through 
the  water  at  a  furious  pace. 

"Lay  aloft  —  man  the  yards!"  shouted  the  first 
lieutenant,  when  the  winner  of  the  race  was  within 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  ship. 

The  crew  sprang  into  the  rigging,  eager  to  see  the 
yachts  which  had  been  concealed  from  their  view  by 
the  high  bulwarks,  and  anxious  to  make  a  good  ap 
pearance  in  this  manoeuvre  ;  for  on  account  of  the 
possibility  of  accidents,  it  was  seldom  performed. 
The  lines  of  young  seamen  ascended  the  rigging, 
keeping  equally  distant  from  the  deck  till  they  reached 
the  cross-trees,  where  they  began  to  scatter,  and  run 
out  on  the  yards.  As  the  first  yacht  passed  the  bow 
of  the  Young  America,  every  boy  was  in  his  place  on 
the  spars,  and  the  appearance  was  very  beautiful. 

'.'  Three  cheers  for  the  Calypso  !  "  cried  the  first  lieu 
tenant,  through  his  trumpet. 

They  were  given  by  the  prescribed  formula,  all  as 
one  voice,  and  with  a  hearty  good  will.  The  Calypso 
dipped  her  ensign  three  times,  her  officers  acknowl 
edged  the  compliment  with  frequent  bows,  and  the 
crew  returned  the  cheers. 

"  Lay  down  from  aloft !  "  called  the  first  lieutenant, 
when  the  yacht  had  passed  the  ship. 

The  boys  were  then  permitted  to  watch  the  coming 


156  SHAMROCK  AND   THISTLE,    OR 

in  of  the  rest  of  the  contestants  in  such  positions  as 
they  chose.  The  race  was  finished,  and  the  excite 
ment  on  board  subsided.  At  six  o'clock,  when  all 
hands  were  piped  to  supper,  according  to  the  port 
routine,  the  second  cutter  had  not  returned,  and  Mr. 
Lowington  began  to  be  a  little  uneasy  about  her.  It 
even  occurred  to  him  that  Wilton,  who  had  been  im 
plicated  in  the  practical  joke,  had  run  away,  and  that 
the  others  were  looking  for  him.  He  had  not  missed 
the  money  taken  from  the  safe,'  and  there  had  been 
no  appearance  of  insubordination  on  board  ;  so  that 
he  had  no  reason  to  suspect  any  serious  violation  of 
the  rules. 

At  half  past  six  he  ordered  the  professor's  barge 
to  be  manned,  and  with  Mr.  Fluxion,  and  the  third 
lieutenant,  as  officer  of  the  boat,  went  ashore  to  ascer 
tain  what  had  become  of  the  absentees.  The  second 
cutter  was  found  at  the  landing-place,  in  charge  of 
Pierce,  her  coxswain,  who  was  now  impatiently  await 
ing  the  appearance  of  his  officer.  He  reported  the 
facts  to  Mr.  Lowington. 

"Who  was  the  officer  of  this  boat?"  asked  the 
principal.  * 

"  Mr.  Pelham,  sir,"  replied  the  coxswain. 

"Where  is  he?" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.  He  ordered  Wilton  and  Mon 
roe  to  carry  the  mail-bag  to  the  post  office,  and  fol 
lowed  them  himself.  I  haven't  seen  or  heard  from 
them  since ;  and  that  was  about  two  hours  ago." 

u  Very  well,  coxswain,  you  will  return  to  the  ship," 
added  Mr.  Lowington,  without  betraying  his  anxiety 
to  any  of  the  crew. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    157 

The  second  cutter  shoved  off,  and  pulled  for  the 
Young  America.  Leaving  Goodwin,  the  third  lieu 
tenant,  in  charge  of  the  barge,  with  strict  orders  to 
permit  none  of  her  crew  to  go  on  shore,  Mr.  Low- 
ington,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Fluxion,  walked  up  the 
pier.  They  visited  the  post-office,  and  found  that  the 
mail-bag  had  been  left  there. 

"  These  fellows  have  gone  on  a  lark,  I  suspect," 
said  the  professor  of  mathematics. 

"Where  do  you  suppose  they  have  gone?"  asked 
the  principal,  anxiously. 

"  Very  likely  up  to  Cork.  They  will  be  back  soon  ; 
at  least  to-morrow,  or  next  day." 

"How  could  they  go  to  Cork?  I  doubt  whether 
all  three  of  them  have  a  shilling,  all  told." 

"  They  will  be  back  all  the  sooner." 

"  I  think  we  have  prevented  some  running  away 
by  not  letting  the  students  have  much  money.  This 
is  the  first  time  any  of  the  boys  have  attempted  to  get 
away,  and  it  will  be  a  bad  example.  lam  sorry." 

"  So  am  I ;  but  these  fellows  can't  have  gone  far 
with  empty  pockets." 

"  We  must  follow  them  up  promptly.  Wilton  was 
at  the  bottom  of  a  trick  played  off  upon  Morgan,  and 
I  think  he  is  keeping  out  of  the  way  to  avoid  conse 
quences." 

41  They  run  together." 

Mr.  Lowington  inquired  of  all  the  policemen  he 
met  if  they  had  seen  the  runaways,  and  finally  traced 
them  to  the  steamer  which  connected  with  the  rail 
road  for  Cork.  This  boat  had  just  returned  from 
Passage,  and  the  fare-taker  informed  him  that  three 
H 


158  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

young  gentlemen,  one  in  uniform,  had  gone  up  in 
the  steamer. 

"  Did  they  pay  their  fare  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  They  did,  sir ;  one  of  them  in  a  blue  jacket  gave 
me  a  sovereign,  and  paid  for  the  three  —  first  class." 

"  A  sovereign  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Fluxion,  with  a 
meaning  glance  at  the  principal. 

"  It  was,  sir ;  and  he  had  more  of  them." 

"When  does  this  boat  go  to  Cork?"  asked  Mr. 
Lowington. 

"  In  tin  minutes,  sir." 

After  a  brief  consultation,  it  was  decided  that  Mr. 
Fluxion  should  proceed  to  Cork  by  the  steamer  and 
railroad,  and  with  the  assistance  of  the  police,  arrest 
the  runaways.  Mr.  Lowington  returned  to  the  barge, 
which  pulled  off  to  the  ship.  He  said  nothing,  and 
no  one  ventured  to  ask  him  any  questions.  While  the 
crew  of  the  barge  were  wondering  where  Mr.  Fluxion 
had  gone,  the  principal  was  vexing  his  brain  to  ascer 
tain  where  the  runaways  had  obtained  the  sovereign, 
and  "  more  of  them,"  which  the  fare-taker  had"  seen 
in  their  possession. 

It  was  not  till  he  had  entered  the  main  cabin  that 
the  missing  safe  key  occurred  to  him.  The  thought 
threw  a  flood  of  light  on  the  dark  transaction.  He 
opened  the  safe,  examined  his  cash-book,  and  then 
counted  the  rolls  of  gold.  Three  of  them  were  miss 
ing.  Mr.  Lowington  was  painfully  agitated.  The 
discovery  of  the  crime  was  appalling  to  him.  He 
,had  no  idea  when  or  in  what  manner  the  key  had 
been  purloined,  or  the  safe  opened.  It  was  not  the 
loss  of  the  money  which  disturbed  him,  but  the  con- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN"    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    159 

sequences  which  must  result  to  the  boys  who  had 
taken  it.  He  trembled  as  he  thought  of  the  riot  and 
debauchery  into  which  they  would  probably  plunge, 
with  so  much  money  in  their  possession. 

Though  he  would  hardly  have  expected  better  things 
of  Wilton  and  Monroe,  he  was  grieved  and  disap 
pointed  to  think  that  Pelham,  the  fifth  officer  in  rank 
in  the  ship,  had  forfeited  his  claim  to  the  respect  of 
his  superiors.  Mr.  Fluxion  was  a  shrewd  and  ener 
getic  man,  and  the  principal  hoped  to  hear  on  the 
following  day  that  the  runaways  had  been  captured, 
and  their  career  of  dissipation  arrested. 

The  next  day  was  Sunday,  and  in  the  forenoon  Mr. 
Fluxion  appeared.  His  arrival  created  a  decided  sen 
sation  on  board,  for  the  students  had  thoroughly  can 
vassed  the  desertion  of  their  companions,  and  readily 
inferred  that  the  professor  had  been  in  search  of  them. 
His  return  without  them  was  an  indication  that  the 
runaways  had  managed  to  escape  his  vigilance.  None 
of  the  officers  or  crew,  however,  were  the  wiser  for 
his  coming.  All  that  was  said  about  the  absentees 
was  uttered  in  the  main  cabin,  whose  occupants  kept 
their  own  counsels.  Mr.  Fluxion  reported  the  result 
of  his  mission  to  the  principal  in  the  state-room  of  the 
latter.  He  had  traced  the  deserters  to  the  Royal  Vic 
toria  Hotel  in  Cork,  where  they  had  dined  in  the 
coffee-room.  They  had  paid  the  bill  and  left  before 
seven  o'clock.  The  police  in  St.  Patrick  Street  had 
seen  three  young  gentlemen,  one  in  uniform,  at  a  later 
hour  ;  but  nothing  more  definite  than  this  could  be 
ascertained.  He  had  telegraphed  to  the  police  of 
Dublin  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  them. 


l6o  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Pelham  is  a  smart  fellow,  and  in  my  opinion, 
fearing  we  should  be  after  them,  they  have  taken  a 
side-car,  and  gone  to  some  hotel  ten  or  a  dozen  miles 
from  Cork,  where  they  intend  to  stay  over  Sunday." 

"  Did  you  instruct  the  policemen  at  the  railway 
stations  ?  " 

"  I  did  ;  but  there  was  a  train  left  for  Youghal  at 
seven  o'clock.  No  one  had  seen  them,  however;  yet 
it  is  possible  they  went  in  that  direction.  I  returned 
for  further  instructions." 

Mr.  Lowington  imparted  to  him  the  astounding  in 
telligence  that  the  safe  had  been  robbed  of  sixty  sov 
ereigns.  .  The  matter  of  finding  the  runaways  was 
fully  committed  to  the  professor,  and  with  his  valise 
he  returned  to  Cork  before  noon.  As  the  ship  was 
to  sail  for  Dublin  on  Monday,  he  was  instructed  to 
join  her  there. 

The  Sunday  services  on  board  of  the  Young  Amer 
ica  were  conducted  as  usual.  The  students  were 
unable  to  obtain  any  information  in  regard  to  the 
absentees.  Mr.  Fluxion  had  gone  on  shore  with  his 
valise,  which  indicated  an  absence  of  several  days  at 
least.  As  the  professor  of  mathematics  was  the  prin 
cipal's  right-hand  supporter,  and  the  most  active  and 
energetic  man  in  the  ship,  it  was  evident  that  the  run 
aways  were  to  be  pursued  with  vigor  and  determina 
tion,  and  that  Pelham  and  his  companions  would  be 
brought  back  before  many  days  elapsed.  Of  course 
the  students  knew  nothing  about  the  three  rolls  of 
gold,  and  were  not  aware  that  the  absentees  were  so 
plentifully  supplied  with  funds  for  their  excursion. 

At  six  o'clock,  on  Monday  morning,  the  pilot  who 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    l6l 

was  to  take  the  ship  out  of  the  harbor  came  on 
board ;  but  the  students  were  still  fearful  that  the  de 
parture  would  be  postponed  on  account  of  the  desertion 
of  the  fourth  lieutenant  and  the  two  seamen.  It  was 
a  fine  morning,  and  the  wind  was  fresh  from  the  north 
west,  which  made  it  fair  for  the  first  part  of  the  voyage. 

"  All  hands,  up  anchor,  ahoy  !  "  piped  the  boatswain 
soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  pilot. 

The  doubt  was  removed,  and  every  officer  and  sea 
man  sprang  to  his  station  with  an  alacrity  which 
showed  how  strong  was  their  desire  to  visit  new  scenes 
and  witness  new  sights.  The  top-sails,  top-gallant- 
sails,  spanker,  and  head-sails  were  loosed  ready  to  be 
set,  the  capstan  was  manned,  and  as  soon  as  the  anchor 
was  a-vveigh,  the  jib  was  hoisted.  The  ship  began  to 
swing  round  as  soon  as  she  was  clear  of  the  ground. 

"  Haul  out  the  spanker  !  "  shouted  the  first  lieuten 
ant  ;  and  when  the  order  was  executed,  the  ship  swung 
round  so  that  she  headed  to  the  opening  of  the  harbor. 
"  Lay  aloft,  sail  loosers  !  "  he  continued  ;  and  the  nim 
ble  tars  sprang  up  the  rigging  like  so  many  cats. 

"  Is  it  possible  !  "  exclaimed  Captain  Carneybeg,  the 
pilot,  as  he  observed  with  what  facility  the  ship  was 
handled.  "  These  b'ys  are  the  smartest  sailors  I  ever 
saw  in  all  my  life,  and  I've  been  to  sea  thirty  years." 

"  Boys  are  smarter  as  sailors  than  men.  What  they 
lack  in  muscle  they  make  up  in  agility,"  replied  Mr. 
Lowington. 

"  And  you  haven't  spoken  a  word  yet,  sir,"  added 
the  pilot. 

"  Not  a  word." 

"  All  done  by  these  bits  of  b'ys." 
14* 


1 62  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Everything.  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  take  the 
ship  to  Dublin  without  a  hint  from  me.  Of  course  I 
watch  them  very  closely  ;  but  it  isn't  often  that  I  am 
called  upon  to  interfere." 

"  Lay  out  and  loose  top-sails  and  top-gallant-sails  !  " 
continued  the  first  lieutenant. 

In  a  few  moments  the  ship  was  going  at  a  lively 
pace  down  the  harbor.  Several  yachts  and  other  ves 
sels  complimented  her  by  dipping  their  colors,  and  by 
cheers,  and  these  courtesies  were  appropriately  an 
swered.  When  the  ship  was  clear  of  the  land  outside 
of  Roches  Point,  the  pilot  went  over  the  side  into  his 
canoe,  and  the  Young  America  was  again  in  charge 
of  her  own  officers.  The  sea  routine  was  now  in  op 
eration,  as  it  had  been  during  the  passage  across  the 
Atlantic.  The  starboard  watch  came  on  duty  as  soon 
as  all  hands  were  dismissed. 

"  Keep  her  E.  £  S.,"  said  the  second  master  to  the 
quartermaster  conning  the  wheel. 

"  E.  £  S.,"  repeated  the  quarter-master. 

The  ship  was  to  run  for  the  Saltee  Light-Ship,  about 
ninety  nautical  miles  distant.  The  course  on  the 
chart  appeared  to  be  N.  by  E.  £N.,  but  the  variation 
of  the  compass  is  about  twenty-four  degrees  west. 
All  sail  was  set,  and  the  usual  sea  order  of  the  ship 
prevailed.  The  port  watch  came  on  duty  at  eight 
o'clock,  and  the  starboard  watch  attended  to  their 
studies  till  twelve. 

At  three  o'clock  the  calculations  of  the  masters  were 
proved  to  be  correct,  and  the  Saltee  Light-Ship  was 
discovered  just  where  it  ought  to  be. 

"  Keep  her  E.  £  N.,"  said  Joseph  Leavett,  the  fourth 
master,  when  the  ship  was  off  the  light-vessel. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    163 

"  E.  £  N.,"  replied  the  quarter-master. 

The  sails  were  trimmed,  and  the  Young  America 
took  her  new  course,  which  being  continued  for  eigh 
teen  miles  would  bring  her  up  with  Tuskar  Light,  a 
little  north  of  Cansore  Point,  the  south-eastern  ex 
tremity  of  Ireland. 

At  half  past  five  the  ship  was  off  the  Tuskar,  which 
is  a  remarkable  rock,  that  looks,  when  the  beholder  is 
several  miles  distant,  like  a  vessel  bottom  upwards. 
It  rises  fifteen  feet  above  high-water  mark,  and  has  on 
it  a  light-house,  similar  to  the  Eddystone,  one  hundred 
and  one  feet  high.  Many  of  the  students  had  heard 
of  this  celebrated  rock  and  light,  and  were  anxious  to 
see  them. 

The  wind  hauled  to  the  westward  at  dark,  and  con 
tinued  to  blow  a  six-knot  breeze  during  the  night. 
The  ship's  course  was  N.  E.  by  N.,  and  at  eight  bells 
she  was  off  Arklow  Light-Ship.  At  four  bells  in  the 
mid  watch  the  second  master  was  observed  to  be  quite 
nervous.  He  examined  the  compasses  very  cai'efully, 
and  went  up  into  the  foretop  to  observe  the  contour  of 
the  hills.  Mr.  Lowington,  knowing  the  difficulties  of 
the  navigation,  had  come  on  deck  about  one  o'clock. 
He  asked  some  questions,  looked  at  the  compasses, 
noted  the  bearings  of  the  lights,  and  examined  the 
outline  of  the  shore,  but  he  offered  no  hints  or  sugges 
tions. 

"  All  right ! "  exclaimed  Martyn,  the  master  on 
duty.  "  Keep  her  N.  W.  by  W.  £  W." 

"  Do  you  know  where  you  are,  Mr.  Martyn  ?  "  asked 
the  principal. 

"I  do,  sir.     Those  two  lights  are  Wicklow  Head. 


164  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

I  have  brought  the  Great  Sugar  Loaf  to  bear  through 
the  Gap,"  replied  Martyn,  with  enthusiasm. 

"But  where  is  Arklow  Bank?"  asked  Mr.  Low- 
ington. 

"When  Arklow  Head  lights. bear  north-west,  we 
are  clear  of  the  Arklow  Banks,"  replied  the  master, 
who  hud  learned  his  lesson  by  heart. 

"  You  have  done  well,"  added  the  principal. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.     It  is  my  watch  below  now." 

Martyn  explained  to  the  master  who  took  his  place, 
the  situation  of  the  ship,  and  went  below.  On  the 
cabin  table  was  spread  out  a  large  chart  of  St.  George's 
Channel,  which  all  the  masters  had  carefully  studied, 
and  each  one  had  written  out  the  bearings  and  sailing 
directions.  Their  experience  enabled  them  now  to 
work  with  accuracy,  and  those  who  had  been  on  duty 
were  delighted  that  everything  had  come  out  as  it 
should,  and  that  they  had  found  everything  where  it 
ought  to  be.  Careful  allowances  were  made  for  the 
tides,  and  it  was  a  joy  to  the  young  navigators  to  find 
their  calculations  were  correct. 

At  four  o'clock,  when  the  ship  was  within  a  couple 
of  miles  of  the  shore,  off  Wicklow  Head,  her  course 
was  changed  to  N.  by  E.  £  E.,  which  would  carry  her 
through  a  channel  from  five  to  eight  miles  wide,  be 
tween  the  main  shore  and  a  series  of  sand  banks,  the 
most  southern  of  which  is  India  Bank.  Perhaps  some 
of  our  readers  will  wonder,  while  there  were  several 
lights  to  be  seen,  how  the  masters  could  tell  one  from 
another.  Besides  the  chart,  they  were  provided  with 
a  book  containing  the  sailing  directions  for  the  chan 
nel.  By  the  descriptions  in  this  work,  they  identified 
each  light. 

• 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    165 

On  Wicklow  Head  there  are  two  light-houses,  one 
hundred  and' eighty  yards  apart,  each  having  a  Jixcd 
light.  One  is  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  the  other 
one  hundred  and  twenty-one  feet  above  high-water 
mark.  The  next  light  to  the  south  of  it  is  Arklow 
Light-Ship,  which'  shows  a  single  light,  thirty-nine 
feet  high,  revolving  once  every  minute.  Wicklow 
Light-Ship  shows  a  red  light.  These  three  lights, 
which  are  all  in  sight  at  the  same  time,  can  be  known 
by  these  descriptions. 

Light-houses  are  not,  as  some  shore  people  suppose, 
to  give  light  to  those  who  sail  on  the  sea,  but  for  the 
mariner  to  take  his  bearings  from.  If  he  can  see  the 
light,  and  identify  it  by  its  description  in  his  sailing 
directions,  he  knows  where  he  is.  For  example,  a 
ship  bound  from  Liverpool  to  Portland,  if  she  ap 
proaches  the  coast  in  the  night,  would  first  discover  the 
lights  on  Cape  Elizabeth.  They  are  two  in  number, 
three  hundred  yards  apart,  and  one  hundred  and  forty 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  one  being  about  south 
west  of  the  other.  The  eastern  is  fixed,  and  the  west 
ern  revolves  once  in  a  minute  and  a  half.  From  the 
relation  of  these  lights  to  each  other,  those  in  the 
ship  can  tell  where  she  is.  If  she  approaches  them 
from  the  north-east,  the  two  will  be  in  range,  and  the 
revolving  light  behind  the  fixed  light ;  if  from  the 
east,  they  will  be  close  together,  the  revolving  light 
being  behind  the  other;  if  from  the  south-east,  they 
will  be  full  distance  apart,  and  equally  distant  from  the 
ship.  To  a  vessel  approaching  from  the  south-west, 
the  two  lights  would  be  in  range,  and  the  revolving 
light  in  front  of  the  other. 


1 66       .  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

At  eight  o'clock  the  ship  took  a  pilot  off  Dublin 
Bay,  and  at  eight  bells  the  anchor  was  let  go  off 
Kingstown.  Not  a  single  recitation  had  been  lost  on 
the  passage,  though  it  was  rather  trying  for  the  watch 
below  to  study  while  the  ship  was  going  up  Dublin 
Bay  ;  but  Mr.  Lowington,  who  was  acting  as  professor 
of  mathematics  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Fluxion,  was 
inflexible,  while  he  was  kind,  and  assured  the  boys 
they  would  have  an  opportunity  to  see  every  object  of 
interest  before  they  left  the  port. 

Dublin  contains  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  thou 
sand  inhabitants,  and  is  situated  on  both  sides  of  the 
River  Liffey,  which  divides  it  into  nearly  equa'l  por 
tions.  The  river  below  the  town  widens  so  as  to  form 
Dublin  Bay,  on  which  is  situated  Kingstown,  the  deep- 
water  port  of  the  Irish  metropolis.  It  was  formerly  the 
little  fishing  village  of  Dunleary  ;  but  being  visited  by 
George  IV.,  who  bestowed  upon  it  the  royal  patronage, 
its  name  was  changed,  and  it  became  a  fashionable 
watering-place.  It  is  connected  with  the  city  by  rail 
road,  and  the  Dublin  and  Holyhead  steamers  —  part 
of  the  great  mail  line  between  London  and  Queens- 
town  —  start  from  here,  though  the  steamers  direct 
from  Liverpool  and  Glasgow  go  up  to  the  city. 

As  soon  as  the  anchor  of  the  Young  America  was 
let  go,  the  port  routine  of  the  ship  was  restored.  In 
the  afternoon  all  the  boats  made  an  excursion  to 
Howth,  on  the  north  shore  of  the  bay.  Howth  Castle 
was  visited,  whose  history  Professor  Mapps  related. 
It  was  the  residence  of  an  ancient  family,  which  has 
furnished  many  warriors  and  noted  men.  Grace 
O'Malley,  a  chieftainess  of  the  western  part  of  Ire- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    167 

land,  after  a  visit  to  Queen  Elizabeth  in  London, 
landed  at  Howth,  and  claimed  the  hospitality  of  the 
lord  of  the  castle,  who  refused  even  to  furnish  her  any 
refreshment.  The  western  lady  was  spiteful,  and  to 
revenge  herself  kidnapped  the  heir  of  the  proud  noble, 
and  kept  him  a  close  prisoner  until  his  father  promised 
that  on  no  pretence  whatever  should  the  gates  of 
Howth  Castle  be  shut  at  the  dinner  hour.  Up  to  a 
recent  date  this  promise  has  been  kept. 

The  party  next  ascended  the  Hill  of  Howth,  a  rug 
ged  steep,  five  hundred  and  sixty-three  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  From  this  point  they  had  a  fine  view 
of  the  .surrounding  scenery,  including  Ireland's  Eye,  a 
picturesque  island,  on  which  are  some  ruins.  There 
were  plenty  of  cromlechs,  cairns,  and  ruins,  of  which 
the  guides  had  strange  "layginds"  to  tell  about  the 
blessed  saints  who  lived  there  and  were  pestered 
with  evil  spirits.  The  good  St.  Nessan,  who  lived  on 
Ireland's  Eye,  being  visited  by  a  fiendish  enemy  while 
he  was  reading  the  sacred  book  of  Howth,  hit  him 
with  the  holy  volume,  and  knocked  him  across  the  bay 
with  such  force  that  the  steep  rock  was  split  into  a 
yawning  chasm. 

"Don't  ye  belave  it?"  demanded  the  Irish  guide, 
when  some  of  the  boys  looked  incredulous. 

"  That's  a  whopper,"  answered  one  of  them. 

"A  hopper  —  was  it?  To  be  sure  it  was.  Didn't 
the  faynd  hop  acrass  the  wather  whin  the  blissed  saint 
shtruck  him?  But  it's  thrue,  ivery  word  of  it.  Don't 
I  show  ye  the  place  where  he  shtruck  ?  and  isn't  that 
the  hole  in  the  rock  he  made  whin  he  hit  it?" 


l68  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

It  was  useless  to  deny  the  truth  of  the  story  in  the 
face  of  this  confirmation,  and  the  party  passed  on  to 
other  scenes.  At  dark  the  boys  returned  to  the  ship, 
tired  out  after  the  hard  pull  and  the  long  walk  they 
had  taken,  and  all  hands  turned  in  at  an  early  hour. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    169 


CHAPTER   XI. 

THE    FAIR   ARCHERS    OF   BELFAST. 

AFTER  study  hours  the  next  day,  the  entire 
ship's  company  took  the  train  at  Kingstown 
for  Dublin.  Leaving  the  station  in  Great  Brunswick 
Street  in  side  cars,  four  and  twenty  of  which  were 
readily  procured,  the  party  proceeded  to  Dublin  Castle. 
In  passing  through  College  Street,  the  procession  of 
cars  encountered  the  carriage  of  the  lord  mayor  of 
the  city,  which  produced  a  sensation  among  the  re 
publican  young  gentlemen.  The  principal  vehicle 
occupied  by  his  worship  was  drawn  by  four  horses, 
driven  by  a  fat,  measly-looking  coachman,  with  a  jolly 
red  face,  dressed  in  extravagant  livery.  Two  foot 
men  also,  bedizened  with  finery,  stood  upon  the  back 
rack.  Behind  this  carriage  was  another,  containing 
the  lord  mayor's  officers.  From  a  side  window  of 
one  of  them  was  projected  the  huge  mace,  which  is 
the  emblem  of  his  lordship's  authority.  The  two 
vehicles  were  flanked  by  mounted  policemen,  belong 
ing  to  the  Irish  constabulary.  The  boys  were  rather 
amused  than  impressed  by  the  pageant,  which  was 
more  befitting  a  travelling  circus  company  than  the 
chief  magistrate  of  a  great  city. 

Dublin  Castle  was  originally  built  for  the  defence 

15 


I7O  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,   OR 

of  the  people  from  the  wild  inhabitants  which  once 
infested  Ireland.  It  has  been  repeatedly  altered  and 
improved  till  but  little  of  the  former  structure  remains. 
In  the  language  of  the  Young  America's  company, 
"  it  isn't  much."  The  cars  were  driven  into  the  court 
yard,  and  the  party  were  conducted  through  the  state 
apartments  by  a  female  servant.  They  were  misera 
ble  rooms  for  so  "  big  a  gun  "  as  the  Lord  Lieutenant 
of  Ireland,  whose  official  residence  the  castle  is.  The 
boys  passed  through  the  viceregal  apartments,  the 
reception,  breakfast,  sitting,  and  ball  rooms.  The  ceil 
ings  were  high,  and  some  of  them  were  adorned  with 
valuable  paintings ;  otherwise  they  were  not  much 
different  from,  or  better  than,  the  rooms  in  an  Ameri 
can  country  tavern. 

From  the  castle,  the  procession  of  cars  went  to  St. 
Patrick's  Cathedral,  the  most  elegant  and  interesting 
church  in  Dublin.  It  has  been  recently  repaired  and 
rebuilt  at  the  sole  expense  of  an  Irish  brewer,  at  a 
cost  of  one  hundred  thousand  pounds.  St.  Patrick 
built  a  place  of  worship  near  the  fountain,  where  he 
baptized  his  converts,  which  was  the  site  of  the  pres 
ent  cathedral.  It  is  not,  as  might  be  supposed,  a 
Catholic,  but  a  Protestant  church.  It  contains  a  tab 
let  to  the  memory  of  Schomberg,  who  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  the  Boyne ;  and  within  its  vaults  repose 
the  remains  of  Dean  Swift,  and  "  Stella,"  the  heroine 
of  his  poetry. 

Passing  Christ  Church,  the  party  crossed  Richmond 
Bridge,  over  the  Liffey,  which,  at  this  point,  the  tide 
being  out,  was  an  unsightly  bed  of  soft  mud,  and 
arrived  at  "  Dublin  Four  Courts,"  an  extensive  and 


YOUNG    AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    l*]l 

imposing  pile  of  buildings  on  King's  Inn  Quay.  It 
takes  its  name  from  the  four  courts  of  Queen's  Bench, 
Chancery,  Exchequer,  and  Common  Pleas,  which  hold 
their  sessions  within  its  walls.  The  procession  paused 
only  long  enough  to  view  the  exterior  of  the  building, 
and  then  proceeded  to  Sackville  Street,  in  the  centre 
of  which  is  the  Nelson  monument,  a  fluted  column 
one  hundred  and  twenty-one  feet  high,  surmounted  by 
a  colossal  statue  of  the  hero  of  Trafalgar.  Stone 
steps  in  the  centre  of  the  pillar  lead  to  the  base  of 
the  statue,  where  a  pbtform,  guarded  by  an  iron  rail 
ing,  affords  those  who  take  the  trouble  to  climb  up, 
a  fine  view  of  the  <:ity  and  the  surrounding  country. 

Sackville  Street  is  the  principal  one  of  the  city. 
It  is  very  broad,  but  there  is  nothing  grand  or  impos 
ing  in  the  buildings.  The  procession  passed  down 
this  street,  crossed  Carlisle  Bridge,  which  is  the  head 
of  navigation  on  the  Liftey,  and  returned  to  the  tail- 
way  station. 

"Well,  Paul,  what  do  you  think  of  Dublin?" 
asked  Dr.  Winstock,  when  the  party  returned  to  the 
ship. 

"  I  don't  think  very  much  of  it,"  replied  the  second 
lieutenant.  "  I  expected,  from  what  I  had  heard  Irish 
men  say  of  it,  to  find  a  magnificent  city." 

"  You  are  disappointed." 

"  I  am  ;  but  I  was  much  interested  in  the  sights  \ 
saw.  It  don't  compare  with  New  York  or  Phila 
delphia." 

"  We  remain  here  but  a  few  days." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  I  have  seen  about  enough  of 
Dublin." 


1^2  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

But  the  next  day,  when  the  party  visited  the  suburbs 
of  the  city,  Paul  was  better  pleased.  The  ship's  com 
pany  went  out  to  Rathmines,  Rathgar,  and  other 
places  in  the  vicinity.  Though  they  saw  no  elegant 
residences,  the  region  around  the  city  was  very  pleas 
ant.  Most  of  the  cottages  and  tenements,  occupied  by 
the  middling  class  of  people,  in  humble  imitation  of 
the  more  wealthy  and  titled  u  nobs,"  had  their  distinc 
tive  names,  as  "  Victoria  Terrace,"  "  Redan  Lodge," 
"  Rathgar  Ville." 

The  next  day  was  wholly  given  up  to  an  excursion 
by  railway  to  Drogheda,  Kells,  and  the  battle-field  of 
the  Boyne,  in  which  Professor  Mapps  was  the  central 
figure.  He  pointed  out  the  spot  where  King  William 
stood  when  he  was  wounded,  and  the  bridge  on  which 
Schomberg  was  killed.  An  obelisk,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  high,  indicates  the  spot  where  the  king  com 
manded  the  battle,  and  where  Schomberg  died. 

On  the  return  of  the  party  to  the  ship,  Mr.  Fluxion 
was  on  board.  His  appearance  created  a  great  deal 
of  excitement,  especially  as  he  came  without  the  run 
aways.  Mr.  Lowington  greeted  him  cordially ;  but 
there  was  a  deeper  shade  of  sadness  on  his  face  than 
was  usually  seen  there.  They  retired  to  the  princi 
pal's  state-room,  where  the  professor  of  mathematics 
made  his  report  in  full.  lie  had  traced  the  deserters 
to  Youghal,  then  to  Waterford,  where  they  had  taken 
a  steamer  for  Liverpool. 

"  When  did  she  sail?  "  asked  Mr.  Lowington,  anx 
iously. 

"  Last  night ;  but  I  telegraphed  immediately  to  a 
friend  of  mine  there,  instructing  him  to  cause  the  three 
hoys  to  be  arrested  for  stealing." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    173 

"  For  stealing !  "  exclaimed  the  principal. 

"  Isn't  that  what  you  call  it  when  they  take  what 
does  not  belong  to  them  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  I  do  not  care  to  hand  them  over  to  the 
law." 

"  The  police  will  do  nothing  but  detain  them,  until 
some  one  appears  against  them." 

"  Then  you  must  go  to  Liverpool  at  once,  and  see 
them." 

"  I  shall  be  there  very  early  to-morrow  morning." 

Mr.  Fluxion  immediately  went  on  shore,  and  em 
barked  in  the  steamer  for  Holyhead,  whence  he  was 
to  go  by  railway  to  his  destination.  Mr.  Lowington 
still  kept  his  own  counsels  in  regard  to  the  runaways. 
The  professor  had  gone  again,  and  this  fact  indicated 
to  the  crew  that  the  search  had  not  been  given  up. 

On  Friday  morning  the  ship  sailed  for  Belfast,  and 
on  Saturday  morning  came  to  anchor  in  the  Lough, 
about  a  mile  from  the  shore.  In  the  afternoon,  the 
ship's  company  embarked  in  the  boats,  and  went  up 
to  the  city,  landing  at  the  foot  of  the  principal  street. 
Dr.  Winstock  was  acquainted  with  an  Irish  gentleman 
who  was  a  large  linen  manufacturer,  and  to  him  the 
party  were  indebted  for  kindly  showing  them,  not 
only  the  public  buildings,  gardens,  and  college,  but  his 
linen  factories. 

Belfast  is  more  like  an  American  city  than  anything 
the  voyagers  had  seen  in  Ireland.  Since  1821  its  pop 
ulation  has  increased  from  thirty-seven  thousand  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand.  The  whole  city 
stands  upon  the  territory  of  the  Marquis  of  Donegal, 
to  whom  the  whole  town  belongs,  and  to  whom  the 
15* 


1 74  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

citizens  pay  rent.  Belfast  is  a  neat  and  thriving  place, 
and  owes  its  commercial  importance  to  the  lineq 
trade.  The  whole  of  the  north  of  Ireland  is  engaged 
in  the  production  of  flax,  which  is  manufactured  into 
linen,  Belfast  being  the  centre  of  that  trade. 

About  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  people  of  Belfast  are 
Protestants,  and  beggars  are  rarely  met  with,  as  in 
Dublin  and  Cork.  The  boys  visited  the  Botanical 
Gardens,  a  large  tract  of  land,  laid  out  in  lawns, 
flower-beds,  and  walks,  and  containing  a  conservatory 
well  stocked  with  tropical  plants.  In  this  garden  they 
witnessed  an  archery  match  between  two  clubs  of 
young  ladies.  The  affair  was  an  event  of  considera 
ble  importance,  and  the  band  attached  to  the  barracks 
was  in  attendance.  The  young  ladies  were  dressed 
in  archery  costume,  and  handled  their  bows  exceed 
ingly  well.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  trial  of  skill, 
the  ship's  company  cheered  the  vfctors.  As  they  were 
about  to  depart,  the  young  ladies  expressed  a  desire 
to  see  more  of  the  visitors,  and  Mr.  Kennedy,  the 
doctor's  friend,  introduced  the  parties.  The  band 
played  for  half  an  hour  longer,  and  the  officers  and 
crew  made  themselves  as  agreeable  as  possible. 

The  young  Americans  were  as  gay  and  gallant  as 
the  occasion  required,  and  Mr.  Lowington  soon  found 
that  the  discipline  of  his  party  was  becoming  im 
paired.  The  young  ladies,  their  fathers  and  mothers, 
were  inviting  the  officers  and  seamen  to  dinner,  until 
there  was  hardly  one  of  them  who  had  not  asked 
the  captain's  permission  to  accept.  Captain  Gordon 
applied  to  the  principal  for  advice.  Mr.  Lowington 
was  in  doubt ;  but  it  was  so  long  since  any  of  the  ship's 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    175 

company  had  entered  a  dwelling-house,  or  mingled 
with  the  society  of  ladies,  that  he  was  unwilling  to 
deny  the  requests.  He  thought  that  the  visits  would 
do  them  good,  and  afford  them  an  opportunity  to 
observe  the  society  of  the  better  class  of  people. 

These  courtesies  required  something  at  the  hands 
of  the  representatives  of  the  school,  and  Mr.  Lowihgton 
immediately  arranged  an  excursion  in  the  ship  for 
Monday.  The  boatswain,  at  the  captain's  order,  piped 
the  crew  together,  and  they  were  instructed  to  accept 
the  invitations.  The  excursion  for  Monday  was  an 
nounced,  and  they  were  directed  to  invite  the  whole 
family  where  they  were  entertained  to  participate. 
The  boats  would  take  off  the  guests  at  Queen's  Bridge 
at  eight  in  the  morning. 

The  students  were  delighted ;  and  just  then  all  of 
them  believed  Mr.  Lowington  was  the  best  man  in 
the  world.  They  divided  into  little  parties,  and  went 
to  the  houses  of  their  new-found  friends.  They  were 
Very  generously  entertained,  and  we  doubt  not  theif 
accounts  of  their  native  land,  their  descriptions  of  thtf 
ship,  the  voyage,  and  their  travels  in  Ireland,  wer6 
as  interesting  to  their  hosts  as  the  young  ladies  them 
selves  were  to  the  American  tars.  In  the  mean  time, 
Mr.  Lowington  and  the  professors  had  been  invited 
to  dine  at  the  Ulster  Club  House  with  Mr.  Kennedy 
and  others  ;  and  of  course  their  friends,  including  sev 
eral  officers  of  the  army,  were  invited  to  join  the 
ccursion. 

At  nine  o'clock,  the  hour  fixed  for  the  return  of  the 
idents  to  the  boats,  most  of  them  had  reported,  and 
Hie  of  them  were  far  behind  the  time.  Nothing  but 


176  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

the  excursion  and  the  "  splendid  time  "  they  had  had 
on  shore  was  talked  about  among  the  ship's  company. 
Sunday  was  rainy,  but  Monday  opened  bright  and 
favorable  for  the  guests.  At  eight  o'clock  the  boats 
were  at  Queen's  Bridge,  and  within  an  hour  the  entire 
party,  including  the  archers  and  their  families,  many 
officers  of  the  army,  and  the  band  which  played  at  the 
Botanical  Gardens,  were  on  board.  When  the  squad 
ron  of  boats  was  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the 
Young  America,  the  yards  were  manned,  and  three 
times  three  tremendous  cheers  were  given  for  the  la 
dies  of  Belfast. 

The  ship,  always  kept  with  the  nicest  care,  was  on 
this  occasion  in  extra  trim.  The  steerage,  in  which 
the  larger  portion  of  the  company  were  to  dine,  had 
been  hung  with  flags.  The  decks  were  as  white  as 
sand  and  holystones  would  make  them,  and  every  rope 
was  hauled  taut,  and  the  ends  laid  in  Flemish-coil  on 
the  decks.  The  guests  expressed  their  admiration  of 
the  beauty  and  neatness  of  the  ship  as  soon  as  they 
reached  the  decks. 

When  the  young  gentlemen  had  had  an  opportuni 
ty  to  welcome  their  friends,  they  were  piped  to  quar 
ters,  the  capstan  was  manned,  and  the  anchor  hove 
short.  The  wind  was  moderate  from  the  north-west, 
and  the  sails  were  shaken  out  according  to  the  strict 
routine  of  the  ship,  the  first  lieutenant  giving  the  or 
ders  in  detail,  which  were  repeated  by  the  subordinates 
in  their  stations.  The  anchor  was  tripped,  the  fore- 
top-mast  stay-sail  and  jib  hoisted,  and  the  ship  went 
oil",  gently  careening  as  the  wind  filled  her  sails. 

u  Isn't  it  lovely  !  "  exclaimed  Grace  Arbucklc,  a  bril- 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     177 

liant  young  lady  of  fifteen,  who  had  won  the  first  prize 
at  the  Botanical  Gardens,  and  had  invited  Paul  Ken 
dall  to  dine  with  her  family. 

"  We  don't  think  very  much  of  it  now,  we  are  so 
accustomed  to  it,"  replied  the  second  lieutenant. 

"  But  it's  magnificent,  lovely,  to  see  the  ship  spread 
her  white  wings,  and  start  so  steadily.  Just  look  at 
those  sails  !  "  added  the  enthusiastic  young  lady. 

"  I  should  rather  look  on  deck.  I  think  the  loveliest 
sight  is  there,"  replied  the  young  officer,  gallantly,  as 
he  touched  his  cap  to  the  maiden. 

"  I  really  didn't  think  the  Americans  were  so  smart," 
said  Grace,  blushing  slightly. 

"  O,  we  are  !  " 

"  Do  you  know  I  think  Mr.  Haven  is  the  greatest 
tnan  in  the  world  ?  " 

"  The  first  lieutenant?     There  is  Captain  Gordon." 

"  But  he  didn't  say  or  do  anything." 

"  He  told  the  first  lieutenant  what  to  do." 

"And  Mr.  Lowington  didn't  have  anything  to  do 
with  it.  He  was  talking  to  those  gentlemen  all  the 
time,"  continued  the  puzzled  miss. 

"  Why,  we  know  how  to  handle  the  ship  without 
him.  We  could  take  her  across  the  Atlantic,  or  round 
the  world." 

"Very  likely  you  could.  I  think  the  Americans 
can  do  anything,  if  the  boys  can  manage  a  big  ship 
like  this." 

"  Now,  Miss  Arbuckle,  if  you  would  like  to  go  for 
ward  and  see  more  of  th*e  ship,  I  will  show  her  to 
you." 

"  Thanks  ;  I  should  be  delighted  to  go  to  every  part 
of  her." 


178  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

The  band,  as  the  ship  gathered  headway,  had  struck 
tip  Hail,  Columbia,  which  had  been  followed  by  Yan 
kee  Doodle,  and  then  by  God  Save  the  Queen.  As 
soon  as  the  officers  and  crew  were  dismissed  from  mus 
ter,  they  all  hastened  to  find  their  Belfast  friends,  and 
all  of  them  were  soon  busy  in  showing  the  ship  to  the 
guests.  Paul  conducted  Grace  to  the  top-gallant  fore 
castle,  where  she  could  look  out  upon  the  water,  then 
to  the  steerage,  explaining  how  the  crew  ate,  slept, 
studied  and  recited.  The  kitchen  was  shown,  and  the 
Irish  maiden  asked  all  sorts  of  queer  questions  a"bout 
the  galleys  and  the  coppers,  which  the  cook  was  proud 
and  happy  to  answer. 

"  This  is  the  main  cabin,  or,  as  the  students  call  it, 
the  professors'  cabin,"  said  Paul,  as  he  escorted  the 
lady  from  the  steerage. 

"  I'm  sure  it  is  a  good  deal  better  than  they  have 
at  the  college  in  Belfast,"  replied  Grace.  "  I  should 
think  they  might  be  happy  here." 

"  Probably  they  are,"  added  Paul,  as  he  proceeded 
to  show  his  fair  companion  the  state-rooms,  the  dis 
pensary,  and  the  pantry. 

"  I  should  like  to  live  here  myself,"  said  Grace. 

"  Perhaps  you  would  not  think  so  favorably  of  our 
ship,  if  you  could  be  on  board  in  a  gale  of  wind." 

"  Why,  what  happens  then  ?  " 

"  She  plays  queer  antics  then.  We  have  to  fasten 
everything  down.  Nothing  will  stay  on  the  tables, 
and  when  we  turn  in,  we  can  hardly  keep  in  our  own 
berths." 

"  That  would  be  fun.  I  should  like  it  above  all 
things.  Do  you  think  we  shall  have  a  gale  before  we 
return?" 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     1^9 

"  I  hope  not ;  it  would  make  you  seasick.  This  is 
the  after-cabin,"  continued  Paul,  as  he  led  the  way 
from  the  main  cabin. 

"  The  after-cabm  ?  This  is  the  one  you  go  into 
after  dinner  —  isn't  it?" 

"  Not  exactly.  It  is  the  officers'  cabin,"  replied  the 
lieutenant,  laughing  at  her  blunder. 

"  Why  do  you  call  it  the  after-cab'm  ?  " 

"  Because  it  is  farther  aft,  or  back,  than  the  other. 
That  is  Captain  Gordon's  state-room,  and  the  next  is 
Mr.  Haven's  and  mine." 

"Then  you  room  with  Mr.  Haven?"  exclaimed 
she,  in  childish  wonder  that  he  should  be  permitted  to 
share  an  apartment  with  so  big  a  man  as  the  first  lieu 
tenant. 

"  I  assure  you,  Miss  Arbuckle,  that  your  friend  is 
quite  capable  of  commanding  the  ship,  and  can  do  all 
that  Mr.  Haven  does,"  interposed  Dr.  Winstock,  who 
happened  to  be  near. 

"  Could  you  give  all  the  orders  to  set  the  sails,  Mr. 
Kendall?"  asked  she. 

"  I  think  I  could,"  laughed  Paul. 

"  For  aught  we  know,  he  may  be  captain  or  first 
lieutenant  after  the  first  day  of  July." 

"  I  really  didn't  think  he  was  such  a  big  man,"  said 
Grace,  looking  at  him  from  head  to  foot,  till  Paul 
blushed  beneath  her.  gaze. 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  ever  be  captain,"  replied  he. 
"  Will  you  look  into  my  state-room  ?  " 

She  went  into  all  the  rooms,  into  the  pantry,  asked 
questions  about  the  barometers,  chronometers,  ther 
mometers,  "  tell-tales,"  and  other  instruments  she 


l8o  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

found  in  various  parts  of  the- cabin,  and  finally  seated 
herself  on  the  divan,  where  she  could  look  through 
the  ports  in  the  stern  of  the  ship.  She  wanted  Paul 
to  tell  her  about  the  United  States,  where  and  how  he 
lived,  whether  there  were  any  Indians  in  Cincinnati, 
and  whether  the  "  States "  were  not  crowded  by  so 
many  Irish  people  going  there. 

"  If  you  should  empty  the  entire  population  of  the 
United  Kingdom  into  our  country,  we  should  only 
know  by  the  census  that  we  had  any  more  people  than 
before,"  replied  Paul.  "  We  have  at  least  twenty-five 
states,  each  of  which  is  larger  than  Ireland.  Some 
of  them  are  ten  times  as  large  ;  and  two  or  three  of 
them  are  each  bigger  than  the  whole  United  Kingdom. 
Why,  Ireland  is  a  little  island.  I  should  not  dare  to 
walk  about  much  on  your  island  after  dark,  for  fear  I 
might  fall  overboard." 

"  If  you  should,  I  suppose  the  water  is  not  deep 
enough  to  drown  you,"  pouted  Grace. 

"  Of  course  we  do  not  pretend  to  vie  with  the  old 
world  in  the  magnificence  of  the  cities,  palaces,  and 
public  buildings ;  but  if  you  should  visit  the  United 
States  in  about  five  hundred  years  from  this  time,  you 
will  find  they  surpass  the  countries  of  Europe." 

"  If  I  am  here,  and  happen  to  think  of  it,  I  will  go 
there,"  laughed  Grace.  . 

"  I  hope  you  will,  and  if  I  happen  to  be  there,  I 
will  try  to  be  as  pleasant  to  you  as  you  have  been  to 
me.  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  go  on  deck  now." 

Paul  conducted  her  to  the  top-gallant  forecastle, 
gave  her  a  chair,  and  seated  himself  by  her  side. 
As  the  wind  was  north-west,  and  it  was  advisable 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IX   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    iSl 

to  take  a  course  which  would  give  a  fair  wind  for 
the  return  trip,  the  ship  was  running  across  the  North 
Channel,  headed  up  the  Firth  of  Clyde.  The  sea  was 
gentle,  and  the  motion  of  the  ship  steady..  Though  a 
few  of  the  party  were  slightly  seasick,  they  recovered 
as  soon  as  the  vessel  entered  the  smooth  water  beyond 
the  channel.  The  band  played  frequently,  and  the  ex 
cursion  was  almost  as  pleasant  to  the  guests  as  it  was 
to  their  entertainers. 

At  two  o'clock  the  Young  America  came  to  anchor 
off  the  Isle  of  Arran,  where  the  party  dined  on  the 
sumptuous  fare  provided  by  the  steward  for  this  spe 
cial  occasion.  An  hour  was  then  spent  in  the  boats, 
in  which  those  who  chose  were  taken  ashore,  and  the 
boys  for  the  first  time  stood  upon  the  soil  of  Scotland. 
At  four  the  anchor  was  weighed,  and  the  ship  headed 
for  Belfast  Lough.  The  breeze  was  fresh  in  the.  after 
noon,  so  that  the  ship  made  twelve  knots  during  a 
portion  of  the  trip,  and  came  to  anchor  in  Whitehouse 
Roads  at  nine  o'clock.  In  due  time  the  guests  were 
landed,  and  the  crew  returned  to  the  ship.  It  was 
unanimously  voted  that  this  was  the  most  delightful 
day  they  had  spent  since  the  ship  sailed  from  Brock- 
way  Harbor. 

Paul  Kendall,  we  fear,  was  a  little  sentimental,  when 
he  went  below  after  landing  Miss  Grace  Arbuckle ; 
and  we  are  quite  sure  that  for  weeks  and  months  he 
looked  back  with  a  kind  of  rapture  upon  the  hours 
he  spent  with  the  pretty  and  brilliant  Irish  maiden. 
Grace  manifested  so  much  interest  in  the  ship  and  her 
crew  —  not  particularly  in  the  second  lieutenant  —  that 
16 


lS2  SHAMROCK.   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

she  wished  to  know  what  happened  on  board  after 
her  departure  from  Belfast. 

"It  is  quite  possible  for  you  to  know,  Miss  Ar- 
buckle,"  suggested  Paul. 

"  I  hope  I  shall  see  you  and  the  other  officers  again 
some  time,"  said  she.  "  We  are  going  to  Switzer 
land  this  summer,  and  shall  pass  through  London  and 
Paris.  Perhaps  we  shall  meet." 

"  I  hope  so  ;  but  we  Americans  know  how  to  write. 
If  you  don't  think  I  am  impudent,  I  will  write  to  you 
an  account  of  our  cruise." 

"That  would  be  delightful,  Mr.  Kendall!  Do 
write,"  exclaimed  Grace. 

"  I  should  be  very  glad  to  do  so,"  replied  Paul. 
"  Will  you,  in  return;  tell  me  all  about  the  archery 
clubs?" 

Perhaps  Paul  used  a  little  harmless  cunning  in 
making  the  arrangement ;  but  when  we  consider  how 
pretty,  innocent,  and  fascinating  this  young  lady  was, 
we  shall  all  be  ready  to  pardon  him,  especially  when 
we  remember  that  he  was  only  sixteen,  and  did  not 
know  any  better !  Paul  was  certainly  a  shade  more 
thoughtful  for  a  few  days,  and  more  than  once  he 
amused  his  friend  the  doctor  by  speaking  in  very  en 
thusiastic  terms  of  the  Queen  of  the  Archers  at  Bel 
fast.  But  he  neglected  none  of  his  academic  or  nau 
tical  duties.  He  studied  even  harder  than  before,  and 
some  of  his  brother  officers  in  the  after-cabin  were 
almost  sure  that,  at  the  next  distribution  of  the  offi 
ces,  he  would  displace  the  first  lieutenant,  if  not  the 
captain. 

On  the   day  following  the   excursion   the  Young 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     183 

America  sailed,  with  a  pilot  on  board,  for  Port  Rush, 
the  nearest  safe  harbor  to  the  Giant's  Causeway.  A 
week  was  spent  in  exploring  the  wonders  of  this  in 
teresting  region.  A  trip  was  made  every  afternoon 
to  some  point  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  boys  explored 
caves  in  the  boats,  climbed  rugged  steeps,  leaped  from 
one  column  to  another  of  the  Causeway,  and  listened 
to  the  echoes  in  the  caverns  by  the  sea  shore.  There 
was  no  end  to  the  legends  related  of  the  origin  of  the 
Causeway,  and  of  the  wells,  pools,  staircases,  caves, 
chimneys,  organs,  and  even  pulpits,  to  which  the 
natural  objects  had  some  real  or  fancied  resemblance. 
The  giants  who  dwelt  there  seem  to  have  been  sup 
plied  with  every  convenience  for  amusement,  as  well 
as  for  moral  and  religious  improvement.  We  can 
give  only  a  single  tradition,  which  explains  the  origin 
of  the  Causeway  :  — 

"  The  giant  Fin  M'Coul  was  the  champion  of  Ire 
land,  and  felt  very  much  aggrieved  at  the  insolent 
boasting  of  a  certain  Caledonian  giant,  who  offered 
to  beat  all  who  came  before  him,  and  even  dared  to 
tell  Fin  that  if  it  wer'n't  for  the  wetting  of  himself,  he 
would  swim  over  and  give  him  a  drubbing.  Fin  at 
last  applied  to  the  king,  who,  perhaps  not  daring  to 
question  the  doings  of  such  a  weighty  man,  gave  him 
leave  to  construct  a  causeway  right  to  Scotland,  on 
which  the  Scot  walked  over  and  fought  the  Irishman. 
Fin  turned  out  victor,  and  with  an  amount  of  gener 
osity  quite  becoming  his  Hibernian  descent,  kindly 
allowed  his  former  rival  to  marry  and  settle  in  Ire 
land  ;  which  the  Scot  was  not  loath  to  do,  seeing  that 
at  that  time  living  in  Scotland  was  none  of  the  best, 


184  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,   OR 

and  everybody  knows  that  Ireland  was  always  the 
richest  country  in  the  world.  Since  the  death  of  the 
the  giants,  the  causeway,  being  no  longer  wanted,  has 
sunk  under  the  sea,  only  leaving  a  portion  of  itself 
visible  here,  a  little  at  the  Island  of  Rathlin,  and  the 
portals  of  the  grand  gate  on  Stafta." 

After  a  very  pleasant  week  spent  in  the  midst  of 
these  wild  scenes,  the  Young  America  sailed  on  the 
ist  of  June  for  the  Clyde,  in  which  she  anchored  off 
Greenock,  after  a  prosperous  voyage. 

The  ship  had  hardly  been  put  in  order  before  Mr. 
Fluxion  came  on  board,  but  the  runaways  were  not 
with  him. 

"  Didn't  they  go  to  Liverpool  in  the  Waterford 
steamer?"  asked  Mr.  Lowington,  when  they  were 
closeted  in  his  state-room. 

"  The  captain  landed  them  at  Holyhead,"  replied 
Mr.  Fluxion,  rather  crestfallen.  "  The  rascals  told 
him  their  ship  would  leave  Dublin  before  they  could 
join  her,  if  they  went  on  to  Liverpool,  and  he  landed 
them  in  season  to  take  the  night  steamer.  They  did 
not  go  to  Dublin,  I  need  hardly  Bay.  They  staid  at 
Holyhead  only  a  few  hours,  and  from  there  I  traced 
them  to  Chester.  They  remained  long  enough  to  see 
the  cathedral,  and  then  departed.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  obtain  any  information  in  regard  to  them.  In 
Liverpool  I  employed  two  detectives  to  continue  the 
search,  and  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  be  found  in 
time." 

Mr.  Lowington  was  more  anxious  than  ever ;  but 
nothing  further  could  be  done,  and  the  professor  re 
turned  to  his  duties  on  board  of  the  ship. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    185 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  JOURNEY   OF    THE    RUNAWAYS. 

NOW  we  are  all  right,"  said  Wilton,  when  he  had 
delivered  the  Young  America's  mail-bag  at  the 
post  office  in  Queenstown.  "  We  are  just  in  time  for 
the  railroad  boat  to  Cork." 

"  That's  so,"  replied  Pelham,  consulting  his  watch, 
as  they  hurried  towards  the  pier.  "  Where  is  the 
money,  Wilt?  " 

"  In  my  pocket ;  it  is  all  right." 

"  But  how  much  have  you  ?  I  want  to  be  sure  it 
is  all  right  before  I  go  a  great  way  from  the  ship,  for 
I  don't  think  it  would  be  exactly  hunky  dory  to  be 
caught  in  a  foreign  land  without  any  change." 

"  I  have  all  that  belongs  to  you,  Pelham.  How 
much  was  there  ?  " 

"  Let  me  see.  I  had  sixteen  pounds.  Lowington 
owed  me  fifteen  pounds,  two  and  sixpence." 

"  All  right ;  I  will  give  you  the  money  when  we 
get  to  Cork,"  added  Wilton.  ' 

"  Suppose  you  give  it  to  me  now,"  suggested  Pel- 
ham,  who  was  not  very  willing  to  trust  such  a  fellow 
as  his  companion. 

"  I  don't  like  to  handle  the  money  here  in  the  street, 
where  everybody  is  looking  at  us."  answered  th« 
16* 


1 86  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  keeper  of  the  stamps,"  fumbling  about  his  pocket 
"  Here  are  five  sovereigns,  and  I  will  give  you  the 
rest  as  soon  as  we  are  alone." 

He  handed  the  gold  to  Pelham,  who  was  satisfied 
with  this  arrangement.  The  trio  of  runaways  em 
barked  in  the  railway  steamer,  and  in  due  time  ar 
rived  at  Cork.  They  took  supper  at  the  Royal 
Victoria  Hotel,  where  in  one  corner  they  found  an 
opportunity  to  discuss  their  plans. 

"  We  must  buy  some  clothes  at  once,"  suggested 
Monroe. 

"  We  can't  afford  to  do  that,"  replied  Pelham. 
"  We  can't  get  any  more  money  for  a  month,  at  least, 
and  fifteen  pounds  won't  last  forever." 

"  But  our  clothes  will  betray  us,"  added  Wilton. 

"  No,  they  won't ;  they  will  help  us  more  than  they 
will  hurt  us.  But  where  are  you  going  next  ?  This 
is  Saturday." 

"  To  Dublin  ;  and  from  there  to  London,"  answered 
Wilton. 

They  called  for  a  newspaper,  and  found  there  was 
no  train  for  Dublin  till  ten  at  night. 

"  That  won't  do,"  said  Pclham,  shaking  his  head. 

"  Why  not?  "  asked  Wilton. 

"  Lowington  will  miss  us,  and  he  will  be  up  here 
looking  for  us  within  an  hour  or  two.  We  must 
clear  out  immediately.  It  won't  do  to  stay  here  an 
other  hour.  Look  over  the  paper,  and  see  what  trains 
leave  at  once." 

"  Here's  a  train  that  goes  at  seven  to  Youghal  — 
where's  that?" 

"  No  matter  where  it  is ;  we  will  go  there,"  said 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    187 

Pelham,  who,  in  virtue  of  his  superior  judgment  and 
energy,  had  already  taken  the  lead  of  the  party.  "  We 
have  no  time  to  spare.  Don't  say  a  word  as  to  where 
we  are  going.  The  station  is  the  one  we  have  just 
come  from  ;  I  have  seen  '  Youghal '  on  a  car  there." 

The  others  approved  of  his  arrangement,  and  after 
paying  the  bill,  they  walked  by  an  indirect  way  to  the 
station  at  Summer  Hill.  •  There  were  two  trains  in 
readiness  to  start,  one  of  which  went  to  Passage,  and 
the  other  to  Youghal.  There  was  a  crowd  at  the 
"  booking  office,"  and  Pelham  asked  a  gentleman  to 
procure  their  tickets  for  them,  which  enabled  them  to 
pass  without  being  observed  by  the  seller.  After  vari 
ous  dodges,  they  slipped  into  a  compartment  of  one 
of  the  carriages,  satisfied  that  they  had  not  been  no 
ticed  by  any  policeman,  or  other  officials.  They  had 
first-class  tickets,  and  found  a  section  of  a  carriage 
which  was  unoccupied. 

"  I  don't  see  the  need  of  all  this  backing  and  fill 
ing,"  said  Wilton,  as  they  took  their  seats. 

"  Don't  you?  Then  it's  lucky  for  you  I  came  with 
you,  for  you  would  be  carried  back  to  the  ship  within 
twenty-four  hours,"  replied  Pelham,  sharply.  "  Can't 
you  see  that  Lowington  will  make  a  tremendous  row, 
when  he  finds  we  have  gone?  " 
,  "  Suppose  he  does." 

"  He  will  put  the  police  on  our  track,  and  telegraph 
to  Dublin,  and  everywhere  else." 

"  Then  of  course  he  will  telegraph  to  Youghal,  and 
we  shall  be  taken  up  as  soon  as  we  get  there." 

•'  He  won't  think  of  our  going  to  such  an  out-of-the- 
way  place  as  Youghal ;  but  I  don't  mean  to  run  any 


1 88  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,   OR 

risks  even  there.  Do  you  see  what  I  have  here?" 
added  Pelham,  as  he  produced  a  "  Bradshaw,"  which 
he  had  purchased  at  the  station. 

The  book  contained  the  time  tables  of  all  the  rail 
ways  in  the  United  Kingdom,  and  information  in 
regard  to  all  the  lines  of  steamers.  Pelham,  who 
had  a  very  good  knowledge  of  the  geography  of  Ire 
land,  studied  this  work  till  it  was  too  dark  to  read  its 
fine  print.  As  he  seemed  to  be  master  of  the  situa 
tion,  Wilton  left  the  whole  matter  to  him,  with  only 
grumbling  enough  to  maintain  his  dignity  and  equality. 

When  the  train  arrived  at  Youghal  it  was  quite 
dark.  Pelham  was  so  sure  that  no  one  could  have 
gone  up  to  Cork  from  the  ship  in  season  to  telegraph 
to  this  place,  that  the  party  left  the  station  without 
any  especial  precautions.  There  was  no  way  to  leave 
the  town  by  public  conveyance  that  night,  and  it  was 
not  prudent  to  go  to  a  hotel ;  but  after  some  difficulty 
they  found  a  lodging-house,  where  they  spent  the 
night,  and  obtained  breakfast  in  the  morning. 

At  nine  o'clock  they  took  the  steamer  which  goes 
up  the  Blackwater,  and  landed  at  Cappoquin.  From 
this  point  they  proceeded  by  jaunting  car  to  Clonmel, 
fi-om  which  there  was  a  train  to  Waterford,  where 
they  arrived  on  Sunday  night.  Pelham  hoped  to  find 
that  a  steamer  would  sail  for  Liverpool  or  Bristol  on  ,. 
the  following  day  ;  but  there  was  none  till  Wednesday 
evening.  On  Monday  morning  they  took  the  train 
for  Kilkenny,  after,  spending  the  night  in  an  obscure 
hotel,  and  wandered  about  the  country  till  Wednesday, 
when  they  returned  to  Waterford  in  season  to  step  on 
board  of  the  Liverpool  steamer  just  as  she  was  leaving 
the  wharf. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    189 

"  We  are  safe  now,"  said  Pclham,  when  the  vessel 
was  clear  of  the  shore. 

"  Don't  you  suppose  we  have  been  safe  all  the 
time  ?  "  demanded  Wilton,  with  a  sneer. 

"  Xo  ;  I  am  certain  that  Lowington  or  one  of  the 
professors  is  on  our  track.  He  will  have  to  follow  us 
up  to  Kilkenny,  and  everywhere  else  we  have  been. 
I  hope  he  will  have  a  good  time,  and  see  as  much  of 
the  country  as  we  have,"  replied  Pelham,  chuckling 
at  the  skill  he  had  used  in  defeating  the  purpose  of 
any  supposed  pursuer. 

It  was  a  fact  that  Mr.  Fluxion  had  traced  the  fugi 
tives  over  their  entire  route,  and  reached  Waterford 
on  Thursday  morning  only  to  find  that  they  had  sailed 
for  Liverpool  in  the  steamer  of  the  night  before. 

"  I  don't  believe  any  one  would  have  troubled  us 
if  we  had  gone  direct  to  Dublin,  and  from  there  to 
Liverpool,"  continued  Wilton.  "  We  have  fooled 
away  three  days,  when  we  might  have  had  lots  of  fun 
in  London." 

"We  have  seen  the  country  —  haven't  we?  The 
fellows  on  board  of  the  ship  haven't  been  to  Kilkenny, 
and  Youghal,  and  Waterford,  as  we  have,"  replied 
Pelham. 

"What  do  we  care  for  those  places?  I  wouldn't 
have  given  sixpence  to  see  them,"  growled  Wilton. 

"  I  have  one  thing  more  to  say,"  continued  Pelham, 
w  and  that  is,  we  shall  be  taken  just  as  sure  as  we  go 
to  Liverpool.  I  know,  just  as  well  as  I  know  anything, 
that  Lowington,  or  some  one  else,  is  following  us." 

"  If  you  had  minded  what  I  said,  we  should  have 
ho  trouble  about  that.  Of  course  people  can  tell 


190  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

whether  they  have  seen  any  fellows  in  the  uniform  of 
the  ship." 

"  I  should  have  been  glad  enough  to  put  oft'  the 
uniform,  if  we  had  money  enough  to  buy  clothes. 
We  couldn't  buy  anything  decent  for  less  than  four  or 
five  pounds,  which  would  make  a  big  hole  in  our 
funds." 

"  Anyhow,  as  this  steamer  goes  to  Liverpool,  I 
suppose  we  are  in  for  being  caught,"  said  Wilton, 
gloomily. 

"  I  am  going  to  dodge  it,  if  I  can  ;  and  I  expect  my 
uniform  will  serve  me  a  good  turn  then.  We  shall  be 
off  Holyhead  some  time  to-morrow.  I  am  going  to 
make  the  captain  send  us  ashore,  or  put  us  into  some 
thing  that  will  land  us  there." 

"  Yes,  and  he'll  do  it,  over  the  left,"  sneered  Wilton. 

"  Leave  it  to  me ;  and  if  I  hadn't  been  with  you, 
you  would  have  been  caught  before  this  time." 

"  I  don't  see  it." 

It  was  true,  whether  he  saw  it  or  not,  for  Mr.  Flux 
ion's  plan  would  certainly  have  given  them  into  the 
hands  of  the  police  in  Dublin,  where  Wilton  in 
tended  to  go.  Off  Holyhead,  the  next  day,  Pclham 
played  his  part  so  well,  that  the  captain  of  the 
steamer  stopped  his  wheels  long  enough  to  put  the 
runaways  on  board  a  fishing  vessel,  which  was  going 
into  .that  port.  At  the  table,  the  night  before,  the 
captain  had  inquired  into  the  significance  of  the  uni 
form  worn  b*y  his  passengers,  and  Pelham  had  de 
scribed  the  Young  America  to  him,  adding  that  he 
and  his  companions  intended  to  join  her  at  Dublin. 
He  was  so  fearful  that  the  ship  would  sail  without 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND-    191 

them,  that  the  captain  finally  yielded,  went  out  of  his 
course  to  hail  the  fisherman,  and  put  them  on  board 
of  her. 

At  Holyhcad  they  took  the  first  train  for  Chester. 
Pelham  was  a  young  gentleman  of  taste  and  informa 
tion,  and  he  could  not  leave  this  old  city  without  see 
ing  its  cathedral,  though  both  Wilton  and  Monroe 
protested  against  any  delay  for  such  a  purpose.  The 
lieutenant  had  the  stronger  will,  and  the  ancient  church 
was  visited. 

"  Well,  where  are  we  going  now?  "  asked  Pelham, 
as  they  came  out  of  the  cathedral. 

"  To  London,  of  course,"  replied  Wilton. 

"Why  London?" 

"  Because  that's  the  best  place  to  go.  We  can  have 
some  fun  there." 

"  We  can  have  just  as  much  fun  in  Glasgow  and 
Edinburgh.  Don't  you  mean  to  see  those  places?  " 

"  After  we  have  seen  London,  perhaps  we  will  go 
to  them,"  replied  Wilton,  whose  plans  were  not  very 
clearly  defined. 

"  That's  a  stupid  idea  —  to  go  to  London  first," 
added  Pelham,  decidedly.  "  I  am  bound  for  Glasgow 
next.  I  wouldn't  miss  seeing  those  lakes  in  Scotland 
for  anything.  I  would  rather  miss  London  or  Paris 
than  Loch  Lomond." 

"  Pooh  !  "  sneered  Wilton. 

"  There  isn't  the  least  need  of  our  keeping  together 
any  longer  if  we  can't  agree,"  suggested  Pelham, 
quietly.  "  I  don't  want  to  drag  you  into  Scotland,  if 
you  don't  want  to  go." 

"  I  had  just  as  lief  go  to  Scotland  as  not,  if  you  will 


Iy2  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

go  to  London  afterwards,"  replied  Wilton,  who  had 
not  so  much  confidence  in  himself  as  he  had  had  be 
fore  he  left  the  ship. 

"  Certainly,  we  will  go  to  London,  after  we  have 
seen  Glasgow,  Edinburgh,  and  the  lakes." 

"  All  right." 

"  I  think  our  uniforms  won't  help  us  much  now, 
and  we  may  as  well  make  some  change  in  our  per 
sonal  appearance." 

"  It  is  about  time  we  did  something  of  that  kind. 
Everybody  is  looking  at  us  now,  as  though  we  were 
the  monkeys  in  a  caravan,"  added  Wilton.  "  But  you 
said  it  would  cost  too  much  money." 

"  We  needn't  buy  new  suits  in  full.  I  can  rip  the 
gold  lace  and  shoulder-straps  off  my  coat,  and  change 
my  cap.  You  can  each  of  you  buy  a  cheap  sack  coat 
and  a  felt  hat." 

"  That  will  change  the  cut  of  the  jib  so  that  we 
shall  not  be  recognized.  We  might  have  done  that 
before." 

"  If  we  had,  the  captain  of  that  steamer  would  not 
have  heaved  to  for  us  to  go  ashore  at  Holyhead." 

After  it  was  arranged  what  each  of  the  party  should 
purchase  for  additional  clothing,  at  Pelham's  sugges 
tion,  they  separated,  and  procured  the  articles  at  dif 
ferent  shops,  the  better  to  baffle  the  efforts  of  any  one 
who  might  be  in  pursuit  of  them.  As  they  were  very 
much  fatigued,  they  decided  to  remain  at  Chester  over 
night,  and  staid  at  a  small  hotel,  where  they  made 
the  changes  in  their  clothing.  Pelham  not  only 
removed  the  shoulder-straps  and  the  gold  bands  from 
his  coat,  but  sewed  on  a  set  of  black  buttons  he  had 
bought,  after  cutting  off  the  brass  ones. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    193 

When  they  went  to  the  train  for  Scotland  the  next 
day,  they  were  sure  that  no  one  would  recognize  them 
as  members  of  the  Young  America's  ship's  company. 
People  had  stared  at  them  wherever  they  went  before, 
but  now  no  particular  notice  was  taken  of  them.  In 
the  afternoon  they  reached  Glasgow.  Pelham's  econ 
omy  and  caution  induced  them  to  take  rooms  at  a  small 
hotel,  where  the  prices  were  low  and  the  accommoda 
tions  were  very  inferior,  the  total  expense  being  only 
five  shillings  a  day  for  each  boy.  Wilton  grumbled, 
as  usual ;  but  the  funds  of  the  party  were  already 
much  reduced,  and  the  fear  of  an  exhausted  exchequer 
was  strong  enough  to  induce  him  to  yield  to  his  com 
panion. 

"We  must  look  ahead,  fellows,"  said  Pelham,  as 
he  took  from  his  pocket  a  daily  newspaper  he  had 
purchased  in  the  street.  "  I  have  less  than  twelve 
pounds  left." 

"  I  have  but  ten,"  added  Monroe. 

"  I  have  more  than  either  of  you,"  replied  Wilton, 
who  had  paid  to  his  friends  the  sums  thev  claimed. 

"  How  much  have  you,  Wilt?  "  asked  Pelham. 

"  I  am  willing  to  make  an  even  thing  of  it  among 
us,  and  I  will  give  you  five  pounds  apiece,  which  will 
make  it  square,"  continued  Wilton. 

"How  is  this,  Wilt?"  demanded  the  lieutenant, 
gravely.  "  Did  you  take  more  than  belonged  to  us 
from  the  safe  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  couldn't  stop  to  count  the  money 
when  I  took  it,"  said  Wilton,  snappishly. 

"  I  don't  believe  in  that,"  added  Pelham,  decidedly. 

"  Nor  I,"  added  Monroe. 

'7 


194  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  You  shall  have  the  money  whether  you  believe  in 
it  or  not.  What's  the  use  of  being  so  notional?  We 
might  as  well  be  hung  for  an  old  sheep  as  a  lamb. 
Of  course  your  father  will  pay  back  anything  you  use 
that  don't  belong  to  you.  You  don't  mean  to  go  back 
to  the  ship,  you  said." 

"  Of  course  I  don't ;  but  I  don't  mean  to  have  a 
hand  in  stealing  money,"  answered  Pelham,  proudly. 

"What's  the  good  of  calling  it  stealing?  We'll 
give  back  all  that  don't  belong  to  us.  You  may  have 
the  five  pounds  ;  but  you  needn't  spend  it,  if  you  don't 
wish  to  do  so." 

"  I  will  not  take  it,"  replied  Pelham.  "  I'm  going 
to  write  to  my  father  this  very  day  to  send  me 
twenty-five  pounds,  so  that  I  can  get  it  when  we  reach 
London." 

"  I  will  do  the  same,"  said  Wilton,  as  the  lieutenant 
glanced  at  the  newspaper. 

"  The  Young  America  is  reported  at  Belfast.  We 
can  date  our  letters  there ;  but  we  shall  not  get  the 
money  for  three  weeks,  and  ten  pounds  will  hardly 
keep  me  going  for  that  time." 

"  You  can  use  the  five  pounds  I  will  give  you,  and 
pay  it  back  when  your  remittance  comes,"  suggested 
Wilton. 

Pelham  was  fully  resolved,  if  compelled  to  take 
the  five  pounds  which  did  not  belong  to  him,  to  en 
close  a  five  pound  note  to  Mr.  Lowington  when  he 
received  his  funds  from  his  father.  The  letters  were 
written  immediately,  dated  on  board  the  ship  at  Bel 
fast.  A  shilling  stamp  was  affixed  to  each  ;  but  when 
they  were  ready  to  mail  them,  a  new  difficulty  pre- 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    105 

sented  itself  to  the  cautious  lieutenant.  The  letters 
would  be  post-marked  "  Glasgow,"  instead  of  "  Bel 
fast,"  where  they  were  dated  ;  and  this  circumstance 
might  excite  the  suspicions  of  the  parents  to  whom 
they  were  addressed. 

u  Of  course  our  folks  will  have  no  idea  that  we 
have  left  the  ship,"  said  Monroe. 

"  Not  unless  Lowington  writes  to  them,"  added 
Wilton. 

"  He  won't  do  that  yet  a  while,  you  may  depend 
upon  it,"  replied  Pelham.  "  I  know  how  to  do  it. 
We  will  put  the  three  letters  into  one  envelope,  and 
send  them  to  the  postmaster  at  Belfast,  requesting  him 
to  mail  them." 

"But  what  will  the  postmaster  think?"  asked 
Wilton. 

"  We  don't  care  a  fig  what  he  thinks ;  he  won't 
know  anything  at  all  about  the  matter,"  said  Pelham, 
as  he  thrust  the  three  letters  into  an  envelope,  ad 
dressed  it,  and  affixed  three  penny  stamps.  "  It  is  all 
right  now,  and  we  shall  have  the  money  when  we  get 
to  London.  Now  we  will  have  some  supper." 

In  the  evening  the  trio  went  to  the  theatre.  Hav 
ing  arranged  their  plans,  and  satisfactorily  adjusted 
the  financial  question,  they  were  disposed  to  enjoy 
themselves.  Before  this  time  they  had  been  embar 
rassed  by  the  fear  of  discovery,  of  losing  their  money, 
and  other  calamities  ;  but  at  supper  each  of  them  had 
taken  a  glass  of  strong  ale,  which  produced  an  effect 
upon  them.  They  had  seats  in  the  pit ;  and  as  the 
beer  made  them  rather  "  chipper  "  with  their  tongues^ 
they  soon  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  well-dressed 


196  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

young  man,  who  sat  next  to  them,  and  who  made 
some  advances  to  them. 

"  Won't  you  come  out  and  take  something  with 
us?"  said  Wilton,  at  the  intermission  between  the 
plays. 

"  Take  something?"  replied  the  stranger. 

"  Take  a  glass  of  wine,  or  some  ale." 

"  Thanks  ;  I  don't  object." 

The  party  drank  wine  on  this  occasion  ;  and  by  the 
time  the  young  salts  reached  the  theatre  again,  its 
fumes  had  begun  to  operate  upon  their  brains. 

"  You  are  strangers  in  Glasgow,  I  think,"  said  the 
young  man,  when  they  had  taken  their  seats. 

"  Yes ;  we  arrived  here  to-day,"  replied  Wilton ; 
"  and  we  are  bound  to  have  a  good  time." 

"  I  see  you  are,"  laughed  the  stranger. 

"  Do  you  live  in  Glasgow  ?  " 

"I<do." 

"  Well,  you  are  a  first-rate  fellow,  and  I  want  to 
know  you  better,"  said  the  tipsy  Wilton.  "  I  suppose 
you  can  put  us  in  the  way  of  having  a  good  time  — 
can't  you  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  can  ;  if  I  can  serve  you,  I'll  be  glad  to 
do  so.  Have  you  been  to  the  Cathedral?  " 

"  We  haven't  been  anywhere.  We  arrived  this 
afternoon." 

"  You  can  go  to  church  at  the  Cathedral  to-morrow, 
if  you  like,"  suggested  the  Glasgowite. 

"  Hang  the  Cathedral !  "  exclaimed  Wilton.  "  I 
want  to  have  some  fun.  What's  your  name,  my 
hearty?" 

"John  Sanderson ;   my  friends  call  me  Jock,  and 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    197 

you  may  call  me  so,  if  you  like,"  answered  the  good- 
natured  stranger,  though  he  no  longer  appeared  to  be 
such. 

'.'  All  right,  Jock !  Keep  your  weather  eye  wide 
open  tight,  and  we'll  have  some  sport  —  won't  we,  Mr. 
Pelham  ?  " 

"  Don't  talk  so  loud,  Wilt,"  said  the  lieutenant,  who 
was  not  so  much  affected  by  the  wine  he  had  drank. 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Pelham ;  I'll  take  a  reef  in  my 
tongue  gear,"  replied  Wilton,  in  a  whisper. 

"  You  are  sailors  —  arn't  you  ?  "  asked  Jock. 

"  Yes,  sir.  We  are  sailors ;  we've  ploughed  the 
briny  deep." 

"  Where's  your  ship?  "  continued  Sanderson. 

"  She's  in  Liverpool,  and  we've  come  here  to  have 
a  good  time,  —  I  want  you  to  understand  that." 

The  curtain  rose,  and  the  attention  of  the  party  was 
called  to  the  play.  Wilton  kept  still  for  a  time,  and 
being  overcome  by  fatigue  and  the  influence  of  the 
wine,  he  dropped  asleep.  His  position,  however,  was 
not  very  comfortable  for  a  nap,  and  Pelham  waked 
him  to  prevent  him  from  falling  upon  the  floor. 
When  the  play  was  finished,  he  roused  himself,  and 
insisted  upon  taking  another  glass  of  wine  with  Jock. 
Pelham  attempted  to  interfere  ;  but  the  juvenile  tippler 
was  so  wilful  that  he  refused  to  listen  to  reason. 

"  Now,  Jock,  take  us  somewhere,  and  let's  have 
some  sport,"  said  Wilton,  as  they  left  the  wine  shop. 

"  Where  will  I  take  you?  " 

"Just  where  you  please.     We  want  to  see  the  fun, 
if  there's  any  in  the  city.     Brace  her  sharp  up,  and 
show  us  the  fun." 
17* 


198  SHAMROCK    AND   THISTLE,    OR 

u  Come  with  me,  lads." 

He  conducted  them  to  a  narrow  street,  and  entered 
a  house  which  Pelham  found  was  a  gambling  saloon. 
There  were  a  bar  and  many  small  tables,  at  a  few  of 
which  men  were  seated  engaged  in  various  games  of 
chance.  In  spite  of  the  lieutenant's  protest,  Wilton 
treated  the  company  again  to  sherry  wine.  Jock  in 
troduced  them  to  several  persons  as  "  his  friends " 
from  America. 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  them,"  said  a  rakish-looking  fel 
low,  who  sat  at  a  table  with  a  pack  of  cards  in  his 
hand.  "  I  suppose  they  want  to  make  some  money 
to-night ;  if  they  don't,  they  are  not  Yankees.  Sit 
down,  gentlemen,  and  we'll  have  a  game." 

"  No,  I  thank  you.  I  don't  understand  the  games 
well  enough  to  play,"  replied  Pelham,  who  was  by 
this  time  considerably  elated  by  the  fumes  of  the 
sherry. 

"  We  never  take  advantage  of  any  gentleman's 
want  of  knowledge,"  said  the  polite  gambler.  "  We 
shall  be  fair." 

He  shuffled  the  cards  and  laid  the  pack  on  the 
table. 

"  Now,"  he  continued,  "  if  you  want  to  put  down 
a  sixpence,  or  a  shilling,  on  the  color  of  the  card  I 
turn  up,  it's  as  fair  for  you  as  for  me." 

Pelham  made  no  reply,  but  he  put  a  shilling  upon 
the  table,  to  which  the  gambler  added  another. 

" Now  what  color  do  you  bet  on  —  red  or  black?  " 
asked  the  man. 

"  Red,"  replied  Pelham. 

The  gambler  "  cut "  the  pack. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    199 

"  Red  it  is,"  he  added.  "  The  money  is  yours ; 
you  see  this  is  entirely  fair.  In  fact,  it's  rouge  et 
noir,  in  a  simple  way." 

"  Half  a  crown  on  the  red  again,"  said  Pelham, 
pleased  with  his  success,  as  he  put  the  coin  on  the 
table. 

This  also  he  won,  and  then  staked  half  a  sovereign, 
which  he  lost ;  but  repeating  the  stake,  won  again. 
In  a  few  moments  he  was  deeply  interested  in  the 
game,  and  put  down  a  sovereign. 

"  A  sovereign  on  the  red !  "  stammered  Wilton. 
"  I've  got  the  rocks." 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  Jock,  "  and  we'll  play  a 
game  by  ourselves." 

"  All  right,  my  bonnie  laddie.  Sheet  home  and 
hoist  away  !  "  replied  Wilton,  as  he  staggered  off  with 
his  new  friend,  leaving  Pelham  to  pursue  his  game 
unmolested. 

"  Yours,"  said  the  gambler,  as  he  turned  up  a  red 
card.  "  You  are  lucky,  my  Yankee." 

The  lieutenant  was  fascinated  by  his  good  fortune, 
and  actually  won  five  sovereigns  before  his  luck  turned, 
as  it  always  does  in  games  of  chance. 

"  Another  sovereign  on  the  red,"  said  he,  in  excited 
tones. 

He  lost ;  but  he  was  so  sure  the  next  card  would  be 
favorable,  that  he  insisted  upon  putting  down  five  sove 
reigns,  though  the  considerate  gambler  advised  him 
not  to  do  so.  The  pack  was  cut,  and  he  lost.  Still 
hopeful,  he  repeated  the  stake,  and  lost  again.  He 
was  naturally  cautious,  and  appalled  at  his  losses,  he 
returned  to  single  sovereigns  again.  He  lost  every 


2OO  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,  OR 

time,  and  in  ten  minutes  all  his  gold  was  gone.  Then 
he  borrowed  two  sovereigns  of  Monroe,  who  was  half 
asleep  in  a  chair  at  his  side  ;  but  they  did  not  restore 
his  "  luck."  It  would  have  been  evident  to  Pelham, 
if  he  had  been  in  his  sober  senses,  that  the  gambler 
'could  cut  red  or  black  at  his  own  pleasure.  He  was 
trying  to  wake  Monroe  enough  to  borrow  another 
sovereign,  when  the  man  behind  the  bar  said  he  must 
close  the  saloon,  which  he  did  in  consequence  of  a 
nod  from  the  gambler  who  had  filched  Pelham  out  of 
all  his  money. 

"  Take  a  glass  of  wine  before  we  go,"  said  Wilton, 
whom  Jock  had  permitted  to  go  to  sleep  again,  as  he 
was  too  tipsy  to  play  "  red  and  black." 

The  wine  was  drank  ;  but  Pelham  persisted  that  he 
ought  to  have  a  chance  to  win  back  his  money.  The 
proprietor  did  not  seem  to  think  this  was  necessary, 
and  declared  that  he  should  receive  a  visit  from  the 
police  if  he  did  not  close  his  place  at  once.  The 
visitors  were  assisted  out  of  the  saloon,  and  Jock 
kindly  offered  to  conduct  them  to  their  hotel,  as  they 
did  not  know  the  way.  Taking  Wilton  on  one  arm, 
and  Monroe  on  the  other,  Pelham  being  better  able 
than  his  .shipmates  to  take  care  of  himself,  the  young 
man  led  them  to  their  hotel,  and  assisted  the  night 
porter  in  putting  them  to  bed. 

They  awoke  in  the  morning  with  violent  headaches, 
as  might  have  been  expected.  Pelham  was  disgusted 
with  himself.  He  had  lost  all  his  money,  except  a 
few  shillings  in  silver  —  had  gambled  it  all  away. 
While  he  was  bitterly  reproaching  himself  for  his 
folly,  he  saw  Wilton  excitedly  searching  his  pockets. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    2OI 

"  What's  the  matter,  Wilt?"  demanded  he. 

"  My  money  is  all  gone  !  "  gasped  Wilton. 

"  So  is  mine,"  groaned  Monroe,  clapping  his  hands 
upon  his  trousers'  pockets. 

"  Every  shilling  gone  !  "  exclaimed  Wilton. 

"  I  haven't  a  penny  left,"  added  Monroe. 

"  We're  in  a  pretty  fix !  "  said  Pelham,  dropping 
into  a  chair,  utterly  despondent. 

"  I  didn't  play  any,"  added  Wilton.  "  I  was  sq 
sleepy  I  couldn't." 

"  Neither  did  I,"  said  Monroe. 

"  It's  a  plain  case  :  I  have  gambled  all  my  money 
away,  and  Jock  and  the  others  picked  your  pockets 
while  you  were  so  tight." 

"  What  shall  we  do?  We  can't  even  pay  the  hotel 
bill,"  continued  Wilton. 

They  were  a  miserable  trio  of  runaways. 


2O2  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SOMETHING   ABOUT    SCOTLAND. 

ON  the  morning  after  the  arrival  of  the  Young 
America  at  Greenock,  all  hands  were  piped  to 
the  steerage  to  hear  Professor  Mapps's  lecture  on  the 
geography  and  history  of  Scotland.  Before  he  com 
menced,  however,  Mr.  Lowington  made  "  a  few  re 
marks." 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  he  began,  "  I  ought  to  say  to 
you  that  the  purposes  of  this  voyage  do  not  permit 
a  thorough  exploration  of  the  several  countries  we 
shall  visit.  We  can  only  observe  a  few  of  the  promi 
nent  objects  of  interest  which  each  nation  or  division 
contains.  I  think  you  saw  enough  of  Ireland  to  give 
you  an  idea  of  the  country.  Doubtless  at  some  future 
time  many  of  you  will  visit  Europe  again,  and  you 
will  find  enough  to  occupy  your  attention  for  two  or 
three  years.  I  am  sure  you  will  enjoy  such  a  tour  all 
the  more  for  the  present  cruise. 

"  Scotland  is  full  of  beautiful  scenery,  as  well  as 
objects  of  historic  interest ;  but  I  find  we  can  remain 
here  only  two  or  three  weeks  ;  and  we  must  make  a 
prudent  use  of  our  time.  The  entire  season  might  be 
pleasantly  and  profitably  spent  in  the  waters  of  Scot 
land.  It  will  not  be  practicable  to  take  the  ship  to 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IHELAXH    AND    SCOTLAND.    203 

the  eastern  coast ;  but,  fortunately,  a  large  number  of 
the  natural  and  historical  objects  of  interest  lie  within 
seventy  miles  of  our  present  anchorage. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  I  am  happy  to  say  that  sight 
seeing  agrees  with  the  routine  of  study  and  discipline 
on  board  of  the  ship  even  better  than  I  had  antici 
pated.  Since  we  sailed  from  Brockway  you  have  not 
lost  more  than  six  or  seven  days,  which  has  been  doing 
remarkably  well.  After  you  have  s'een  Glasgow  and 
the  land  of  Burns,  —  which  can  be  done  without  inter 
fering  with  your  studies,  —  we  will  take  a  short  vaca 
tion,  to  enable  you  to  visit  the  lakes,  Stirling  and 
Edinburgh." 

The  announcement  was  followed  by  a  round  of 
applause. 

"  I  cheerfully  bear  testimony  to  your  general  good 
conduct,  and  to  your  devotion  to  your  studies,"  con 
tinued  the  principal.  "  I  assure  you  that,  while  you 
continue  faithful  to  your  duties,  I  shall  afford  you 
every  privilege  that  is  consistent  with  the  object  of  the 
voyage." 

The  students  hoped  he  would  say  something  about 
the  runaways,  but  he  did  not  allude  to  them  ;  not  even 
the  officers  knew  anything  about  them,  and  all  were 
curious  to  ascertain  whether  Mr.  Fluxion  had  found 
them.  Some  believed  that,  as  the  professor  had  re 
turned  to  his  duties,  the  deserters  had  been  captured 
and  sent  home  in  disgrace ;  but  those  who  had  the 
most  confidence  in  Pelham's  skill  and  strategy  were 
satisfied  that  he  had  eluded  his  pursuer. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Mapps,  as  he  took 
his  pointer,  "  I  shall  not  detain  you  long  over  the  map 


204  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

of  Scotland,  though  the  physical  features  of  the  coun 
try  are  worth  a  careful  study.  Scotland  is,  as  you  arc 
aware,  the  northern  division  of  the  Island  of  Great 
Britain,"  he  continued,  pointing  to  the  large  map 
which  hung  on  the  foremast.  "  It  is  a  peninsula. 
The  length  of  the  boundary  line  between  Solway 
Frith  and  Berwick  is  about  eighty  miles.  The  long 
est  line  which  can  be  drawn  through  the  country 
would  be  from  Dunnet  Head  to  fhe  Mull  of  Galloway, 
nearly  north  and  south,  two  hundred  and  eighty-five 
miles.  What  is  the  area  of  Scotland  ?  " 

"  Thirty-one  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  square  miles,"  replied  the  boys  in  concert. 

"  About  the  same  as  Ireland,  which  is  a  little 
larger,"  added  the  professor,  "  and  therefore  about 
the  size  of  the  State  of  Maine.  You  perceive  that  on 
the  west  and  north  there  are  many  large  islands. 
Their  united  area  is  about  forty-two  hundred  square 
miles.  What  is  the  population  ?  " 

"  Three  millions,"  replied  the  boys. 

"  For  fifty  years  preceding  1851  its  average  increase 
was  nearly  eighty  per  cent. ;  but  during  the  last  ten 
years  it  has  been  only  six  per  cent.  It  has  about 
the  same  population  as  Pennsylvania,  the  State  of 
New  York  containing  one  million  more  than  Scotland. 
The  surface  is  irregular  and  mountainous.  Scotland 
is  divided  into  the  Highlands  and  Lowlands  by  a 
very  indefinite  line,  which  extends  across  the  country, 
near  its  centre.  The  Highlands  are  subdivided  by  the 
chain  of  lochs  extending  from  north-east  to  south-west, 
now  so  united  that  they  form  the  Caledonian  Canal. 

"  There  is  a  list  of  nearly  sixty  mountains  in  Scot- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    205 

land,  but  none  of  them  would  be  called  high  even  in 
the  United  States.  Ben  Nevis,  one  of  the  Grampians, 
and  the  highest  in  the  United  Kingdom,  is  nearly  two 
thousand  feet  less  in  height  than  Mount  Washington. 
Ben  Lomond,  which  is  within  twenty  miles  of  us,  and 
which  perhaps  you  may  ascend,  is  a  little  more  than 
three  thousand  feet  high.  Ben  Ledi,  which  you  will 
also  see,  has  nearly  the  same  elevation. 

"  There  are  no  rivers  in  Scotland  of  any  considera 
ble  importance,  all  of  them  being  less  than  two  hun 
dred  miles  in  length.  In  Scotland  the  estuaries  of 
these  rivers  receive  the  name  of  friths  or  firths.  Above 
them  the  rivers  are  seldom  navigable  for  large  vessels. 
The  Clyde,  on  which  Glasgow  is  situated,  has  been 
deepened  by  dredging,  so  that  vessels  may  go  up 
about  twelve  miles.  But  these  rivers  are  exceedingly 
valuable  in  a  commercial  point  of  view,  for  they  fur 
nish  the  principal  cities  of  Great  Britain  with  salmon. 

"  The  country  is  abundantly  supplied  with  lakes, 
which  are  very  long  for  their  width,  and  many  of 
them  are  navigable  for  small  steamers,  which  greatly 
facilitate  internal  communication. 

"  The  climate  is  extremely  variable,  but  the  coun 
try  is  remarkably  healthy.  The  temperature  averages 
47°,  varying  from  10°  to  70°.  The  agriculture  is  su 
perior  to  that  of  Ireland.  The  ordinary  grains  are 
raised,  but  fruits  do  not  mature  so  well  as  in  England. 
The  mountainous  regions  can  only  be  improved  as 
pasturage,  and  the  dairy  products  are  important  and 
valuable.  Scotland  is  rich  in  minerals,  and  mines 
of  coals,  iron,  lead,  copper,  and  marble  are  exten 
sively  worked  in  various  localities. 
18 


2O6  SHAMROCK  AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  The  people  of  Scotland  are  divided,  according  to 
their  origin,  into  the  Highlanders  and  the  Lowlanders, 
the  former  being  more  essentially  Scotch  than  the 
latter,  whose  distinctive  features  were  modified  by  the 
intermixture  of  the  Saxons.  In  the  scale  of  moral 
and  intellectual  being,  the  inhabitants  of  Scotland  hold 
the  highest  rank,  and  no  country  has  produced  a 
better  race  of  men.  They  are  an  honest,  industrious, 
and  reflecting  people.  Education  has  been  widely 
disseminated  among  them,  and  institutions  of  learn 
ing  are  warmly  cherished.  Perhaps  no  nation  has 
produced  a  greater  proportion  of  distinguished  poets, 
historians,  philosophers,  and  mechanicians  than  Scot 
land.  Burns,  Scott,  Campbell,  Thomson,  Montgom 
ery,  and  Wilson,  the  poets,  were  born  in  Scotland  ;  so 
were  Hume,  Robertson,  Alison,  and  Carlyle,  the  his 
torians  ;  as  well  as  Adam  Smith,  Dugald  Stewart,  and 
Sir  William  Hamilton,  the  philosophers,  and  Watt, 
the  inventor  of  the  steam  engine. 

"  Scotland  was  known  to  the  Romans  under  the 
name  of  Caledonia  ;  but  the  early  history  of  the  coun 
try  is  not  authentic.  The  feudal  system  prevailed 
during  the  first  century,  when  the  Scottish  chieftains 
ruled  their  own  clans.  About  the  year  450  the  Sax 
ons  invaded  and  conquered  the  Lowlands,  where  they 
settled,  and  Edwin,  one  of  their  leaders,  founded  the 
city  of  Edinburgh,  or,  as  it  was  formerly  called,  Ed- 
winsburgh.  Fifty  years  later,  the  Scots,  a  Celtic  tribe 
from  Ireland,  appeared  in  the  country,  settled  on  the 
west  coast,  and  eventually  became  the  dominant  race. 
From  them  the  country  received  its  present  name  of 
Scotland.  During  this  period  the  people  were  con- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.   2OJ 

verted  to  Christianity  by  missionaries  sent  over  from 
Ireland. 

"  The  country  north  of  the  Clyde  was  conquered 
by  the  Danes ;  but  a  combination  of  chieftains,  under 
the  leadership  of  Malcolm,  drove  them  from  the  main 
land  to  the  Orkney  and  Western  Islands,  of  which  they 
had  previously  possessed  themselves.  The  victor  chief 
was  made  king  of  Scotland,  under  the  title  of  Malcolm 
II.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  and  by  his  grand 
son  Duncan,  who,  according  to  the  tragic  story  of 
Shakspeare's  plays,  was  murdered  by  Macbeth ;  and 
he  in  his  turn  was  defeated  and  slain  by  Malcolm, 
Duncan's  son,  who  became  undisputed  sovereign  of 
all  Scotland,  except  the  islands  still  in  possession  of 
the  Danes. 

"  During  the  reign  of  Malcolm  III.  William  the  Con 
queror  landed  in  England,  and  the  Normans  obtained 
possession  of  the  country.  Malcolm  had  married 
Margaret,  a  Saxon  princess,  whose  brother,  Edgar 
Atheling,  was  the  rightful  successor  of  the  crown  of 
England.  In  the  interest  of  his  brother-in-law,  the 
King  of  Scotland  invaded  the  northern  part  of  England, 
plundering  and  ravaging  the  country.  King  William, 
in  revenge,  entered  Scotland  with  a  force  so  large  that 
Malcolm  submitted  to  his  power,  and  became  his  vas 
sal.  This  claim,  on  the  part  of  England,  to  the  sov 
ereignty  of  Scotland  was  the  cause  of  a  succession  of 
Avars. 

"  In  the  thirteenth  century  the  throne  of  Scotland, 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Margaret,  the  infant 
child  of  Alexander  III.,  was  claimed,  among  others, 
by  Bruce  and  Baliol.  The  ambitious  King  of  Eng- 


2O8  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

land,  Edward  I.,  having  designs  upon  the  kingdom  of 
Scotland,  offered  to  mediate  between  the  competitors. 
His  offer  was  accepted :  but  before  he  would  give  his 
decision,  he  required  the  Scottish  barons  to  acknowl 
edge  him  as  their  '  lord  paramount.'  Intimidated  by 
his  vast  power,  they  yielded,  and  thus  the  former 
claim  of  England  was  reestablished.  Edward  gave 
the  crown  to  Baliol,  whom  he  soon  intentionally 
goaded  into  a  war,  in  which  the  country  was  overrun 
by  the  invaders,  its  strong  places  reduced,  and  the 
king  captured  and  sent  to  the  Tower  of  London.  At 
this  crisis,  when  Scotland  seemed  to  be  fully  subju 
gated,  Sir  William  Wallace  appeared  as  an  actor  on 
the  stage  of  events,  and  to  some  extent  retrieved  the 
fallen  fortunes  of  his  country.  But  this  valiant  Scot 
tish  chief  was  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies, 
and  Edward  caused  him  to  be  cruelly  executed  in 
London. 

"  The  unequal  struggle  was  continued  by  Robert 
Bruce,  of  '  spider '  memory.  He  was  the  grandson 
of  the  Bruce  who  had  been  the  co-claimant  with 
Baliol  of  the  throne.  He  was  not  successful  at  first ; 
but  he  persevered,  encouraged  by  the  example  of  the 
patient  spider,  and  at  last,  in  the  great  battle  of  Ban- 
nockburn,  in  1314,  defeated  and  overwhelmed  the 
English." 

"  What's  the  spider  story,  sir?  I  never  heard  of 
it,"  said  one  of  the  students. 

"  I  supposed  every  boy  in  the  civilized  world  had 
heard  it,"  replied  Mr.  Mapps,  smiling.  "  Bruce  lay 
one  day  in  his  tent  or  cabin,  while  nearly  discouraged 
by  the  ill  success  of  his  arms,  watching  a  spider  which 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    209 

had  made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  stretch  his 
thread  from  one  point  to  another.  Regarding  this 
spider  as  a  type  of  himself,  he  watched  it  with  inter 
est,  and  when  the  insect  succeeded  in  his  purpose, 
Bruce  interpreted  it  as  a  favorable  augury,  and  con 
tinued  his  efforts,  which  were  at  last  as  successful  as 
those  of  the  spider  had  been. 

"  Though  the  war  was  continued  for  fourteen  years 
longer,  the  independence  of  Scotland  was  finally  ac 
knowledged.  During  the  next  century  the  crown  was 
worn  by  three  successors  of  Bruce.  Robert  II.  was  the 
son  of  the  '  Steward  of  Scotland,'  which  fact  gave  a 
name  to  the  house  of  Stuart,  of  which  he  was  the  first 
king.  The  son  of  Robert  III.  became  James  I.  of  Scot 
land,  who  was  succeeded  by  five  more  kings  of  the 
same  name,  which  brings  this  history  down  to  James 
VI.,  the  last  of  the  Scottish  kings.  Mary  Stuart, 
commonly  called  '  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,'  was  the 
daughter  of  James  V.  Of  her  history  we  shall  have 
more  to  say  at  Stirling  and  Edinburgh. 

"James  IV.  of  Scotland  married  Margaret  Tudor, 
daughter  of  Henry  VII.  of  England.  Henry  VIII. 
left  three  children,  Edward,  Mary,  and  Elizabeth  ;  and 
when  the  last  died  without  children,  James  VI.  of 
Scotland,  directly  descended  through  Mary  Queen  of 
Scots  from  Henry  VII.,  became  James  I., of  England  ; 
and  here  ends  the  separate  history  of  Scotland.  The 
two  countries  were  united  by  a  common  sovereignty  ; 
but  it  was  not  till  one  hundred  years  later  that  they 
were  joined  together  by  law.  The  government  is 
essentially  the  same  now  as  that  of  England,  and  the 
people  are  represented  in  the  two  houses  of  Parlia 
ment.  18* 


2IO  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"•  This  is  all  I  have  to  say  at  present,  young  gen 
tlemen  ;  but  I  shall  have  frequent  occasion  to  allude  to 
the  history  of  Scotland  as  we  visit  various  scenes  of 
historic  interest." 

"  You  haven't  said  a  word  about  Rob  Roy,"  added 
a  student,  when  the  lecture  was  finished. 

"  I  do  not  consider  Rob  Roy  a  person  of  sufficient 
consequence  to  occupy  a  place  in  a  brief  history  of 
Scotland.  The  scene  of  his  exploits  was  the  region 
around  Loch  Lomond  and  Loch  Katrine.  He  was 
simply  a  freebooter.  Rob  Roy,  in  plain  English,  was 
Robert  the  Red.  His  true  name  was  Robert  Mac- 
gregor.  He  was  a  cattle-dealer  before  the  insurrec 
tion  of  1715  in  Scotland.  George  I.  was  the  first  sov 
ereign  of  the  Brunswick  family,  and  some  of  the  people 
of  Scotland  wished  to  have  the  succession  continued 
in  the  line  of  the  Stuarts.  James  II.,  who  left  his 
throne  and  went  to  France,  was  succeeded  by  his 
daughter  Mary  and  her  husband  William  of  Orange. 
James  made  several  attempts  to  recover  his  crown,  as 
I  told  you,  on  the  battle-field  by  the  Boyne  in  Ireland. 
He  had  an  only  son,  whom  the  people  of  Scotland 
wished  to  call  to  the  throne.  He  is  known  in  history 
as  the  Pretender.  He  went  to  Scotland,  and  the  peo 
ple  there  rallied  under  his  banner.  Among  them  was 
Rob  Roy,  the  cattle-dealer.  His  lands  were  seized, 
and  he  commenced  a  war  of  reprisal.  His  daring 
exploits  and  a  certain  nobility  of  character  made  him 
a  hero,  and  his  name  is  a  household  word  in  Scot 
land." 

Rob  Roy  "  stock "  was  rather  at  a  discount,  even 
with  those  who  had  read  Sir  Walter  Scott's  novel, 


YOUXG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    211 

after  the  professor's  rather  contemptuous  allusion  to 
that  worthy.  The  students  devoted  themselves  to  the 
studies  of  the  forenooji,  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  they  heard  the  welcome  pipe  of  the  boatswain 
which  called  together  the  crew  for  an  excursion  on 
shore.  The  boats  were  lowered,  and  all  hands  em 
barked. 

"  What  is  there  here?"  asked  Paul  Kendall  of  his 
constant  friend  the  surgeon,  when  they  landed  at 
Greenock. 

"  Nothing  of  especial  interest ;  but  the  place  is  a 
thriving  commercial  town,  and  noted  for  its  ship 
building,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock.  "  Did  you  ever  read 
Burns' s  poems,  Paul?" 

"  A  little,  sir." 

"  Then  of  course  you  have  heard  of  Highland 
Mary.  She  was  buried  in  this  town." 

"  I  never  read  much  of  Burns's  poetry,  for  the  reason 
that  I  could  not  understand  the  Scotch  it  contains," 
added  Paul. 

"  There  are  plenty  of  his  poems  which  contain  no 
Scotch,  though  I  think  that  is  the  charm  of  his  works. 
His  native  humor  and  pathos  are  best  expressed  in 
the  dialect  in  which  he  used  to  think  and  speak. 
You  will  find  many  memorials  of  Burns,  and  perhaps 
you  will  have  a  deeper  interest  in  him  when  you  have 
seen  them.  Certainly  he  was  a  wonderful  poet ;  and 
in  spite  of  his  intemperance  and  the  irregularities  of 
his  life,  the  people  of  Scotland  almost  worship  his 
memory." 

"  I  have  often  heard  of  Greenock,  but  I  can't  think 
what  it  is  noted  for,"  said  Paul.  "  I  know  it  is  an 


212  SIIAMROCtf   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

important  seaport,  but  it  is  famous  for  something 
that  I  have  heard  about." 

"  It  is  the  birthplace  of  a  very.celebrated  man  ;  one 
who  had  added  more  to  the  wealth  of  Great  Britain 
than  any  other  man  ;  one  who  has  increased  the  value 
of  its  productive  industry  more  than  a  hundred  fold." 

"  I  know  who  he  is  now !  "  exclaimed  Paul.  "  It 
is  Watt,  the  man  who  invented  the  steam  engine." 

"  You  are  right.  He  is  generally  called  the  in 
ventor  of  the  steam  engine,  though  he  did  not  discover 
the  principle  upon  which  the  machine  is  constructed. 
But  he  made  it  applicable  to  the  purposes  for  which 
the  engine  is  now  used,  and  he  is  justly  entitled  to  all 
the  honor  which  is  awarded  to  him." 

The  party  visited  the  Watt  memorial  in  Union  Street, 
which  is  a  structure  erected  by  the  son  of  the  great  in 
ventor,  and  contains  a  beautiful  statue  of  Watt,  by  Sir 
Francis  Chantrey,  purchased  by  subscription. 

After  a  walk  through  the  town,  the  party  took  seats 
in  the  train  for  Glasgow.  On  this  railroad  the  boys 
saw  fourth-class  cars,  in  which  the  passengers,  paying 
less  fare  than  the  third  class,  are  huddled  in  without 
seats  —  cheap,  but  not  comfortable. 

"  Renfrew  !  "  exclaimed  Paul,  and  the  train  stopped 
at  a  village  with  this  name.  "  I  have  heard  of  the 
place  before." 

"  Probably  you  have  heard  of  Baron  Renfrew,  who 
recently  visited  the  United  States.  Do  you  know 
whom  I  mean?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  it  was  the  Prince  of  Wales." 

"  It  was  ;  and  in  every  official  mention  of  the  prince 
he  was  called  Baron  Renfrew.  The  barony  belonged 


YOUNG    AMEUICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    213 

to  the  Stuart  family,  of  whose  origin  Mr.  Mapps 
spoke  to  you  this  forenoon,  and  came  by  descent  to 
the  Prince  of  Wales." 

The  train  stopped  a  few  moments  at  Paisley,  which 
is  an  important  manufacturing  place.  After  leaving 
this  town,  .the  view  from  the  window  of  the  carriage 
was  very  pleasant.  The  houses  of  the  poorer  people 
were  neat  and  comfortable,  and  the  thrift  of  the  Scotch 
was  apparent  in  their  dwellings  and  in  their  gardens. 
When  the  party  arrived  at  the  station  in  Glasgow,  a 
sufficient  number  of  carriages  were  in  readiness  for 
them,  Mr.  Fluxion  having  engaged  them  an  hour 
before.  The  vehicles  were  a  kind  of  barouche,  drawn 
by  one  horse,  accommodating  four  persons.  They  are 
let  by  the  hour  for  three  shillings.  The  ordinary  cab 
fare  for  any  distance  within  a  mile  and  a  half  is  one 
shilling,  and  sixpence  for  every  additional  half  mile, 
which  are  only  from  a  quarter  to  a  half  of  the  rates 
charged  in  the  principal  cities  of  the  United  States. 

The  procession  of  carriages  left  the  station  and 
crossed  the  Clyde  by  the  Glasgow  Bridge,  a  granite 
structure  five  hundred  feet  in  length  by  sixty  in  width. 
A  penny  toll  is  collected  on  this  bridge,  which  Paul 
Kendall  declared  no  American  city  would  tolerate  in 
its  midst. 

"  Before  you  have  travelled  long  in  Scotland  and 
England,  you  will  find  a  great  many  places  where  your 
passage  is  obstructed  by  a  demand  for  a  penny,"  said 
Dr.  Winstock,  with  a  smile. 

"  This  is  the  Broomielaw,"  he  added,  pointing  to 
the  left  of  the  bridge. 

"The  what?" 


214  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  The  Broomiclaw." 

"  I  don't  see  an}'  such  thing  as  that,"  laughed  Paul, 
looking  in  the  direction  indicated. 

"  It  is  the  harbor  or  basin  of  the  port.  You  see  the 
forest  of  masts  and  the  crowd  of  steamers,  extending 
for  a  mile  down  the  river.  Fifty  years  ago  the  water 
here  was  not  more  than  three  and  a  half  feet  deep, 
and  there  are  men  now  living  in  Glasgow  who  have 
often  waded  across  the  Clyde.  The  river  had  been 
doubled  or  tripled  in  width,  and  now  vessels  drawing 
twenty  feet  of  water  can  come  up  at  full  tide." 

"  There  are  plenty  of  steamers  here,  and  some  of 
the  smallest  ones  I  ever  saw,"  said  Paul,  as  they 
passed  from  the  bridge. 

"  Clyde-built  steamers  are  celebrated  all  over  the 
world,  and  the  building  of  them  is  one  of  the  most 
important  branches  of  business  in  Glasgow,  which  you 
know  is-the  third  city  in  size  in  the  United  Kingdom." 

"  London  is  the  first,  and  Liverpool  the  second," 
added  Paul. 

Glasgow,  though  its  importance  as  a  commercial 
and  manufacturing  place  is  of  modern  origin,  is  an 
ancient  city,  and  is  said  to  have  been  founded  about 
the  year  500.  Before  the  American  revolution  the 
trade  of  the  city  was  almost  wholly  in  tobacco,  in 
which  large  fortunes  were  made.  The  war  between 
England  and  her  colonies  interrupted  this  trade,  and 
the  people  turned  their  attention  to  the  manufacturing 
of  cotton  goods,  which  has  become  one  of  the  most 
productive  sources  of  wealth  to  the  city. 

The  iron  trade,  however,  is  the  most  notable  branch 
of  industry.  About  the  time  the  revolution  in  Amer- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    215 

ica  suspended  the  tobacco  importation,  Watt  came 
upon  the  stage  of  action  with  the  steam  engine,  and 
Glasgow,  where  Watt  spent  so  many  years  of  his  life 
in  studying  the  principle  and  perfecting  the  mechan 
ism  of  his  invention,  derived  immense  benefit  from 
his  genius.  The  coal  and  iron  mines  in  the  vicinity 
afford  abundant  material  for  the  iron  works. 

In  1812  Henry  Bell  launched  on  the  Clyde  the  first 
steamboat  ever  seen  in  the  United  Kingdom,  though 
some  abortive  attempts  had  been  made  by  others  to 
apply  the  steam  engine  as  a  motive  power  to  vessels. 
This  was  five  years  after  Fulton,  the  real  inventor  of 
the  steamboat,  had  made  his  celebrated  trip  from 
New  York  to  Albany  in  the  Clermont.  The  immense 
improvements  made  in  the  port  of  Glasgow  have 
opened  new  sources  of  wealth  to  the  city.  The  build 
ing  of  iron  steamers  and  their  engines  is  now  one  of 
the  chief  branches  of  business. 

"  There  is  not  much  to  be  seen  in  Glasgow,  and 
the  city  is  of  little  importance  to  the  tourist,"  said  Dr. 
Winstock,  as  the  procession  of  carriages  turned  into 
Argyle  Street.  "  This  is  the  principal  street,  and  a 
ride  of  half  an  hour  will  give  you  a  very  good  idea 
of  the  city,  which  is  just  like  every  other  commercial 
town." 

The  odd  names  of  the  streets  which  the  doctor  or 
the  driver  mentioned  amused  the  boys,  as  the  Tron- 
gate  and  Gallowsgate,  —  which  are  a  continuation  of 
Argyle  Street,  —  the  Saltmarket,  Sauchiehall,  and  the 
suburbs  of  Strathbungo  and  Crossmyloof. 

In  George  Square  there  is  a  monument  to  Sir  Wal 
ter  Scott,  a  pedestrian  statue  of  Sir  John  Moore,  the 


2l6  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,   OR 

hero  of  Corunna,  another  of  James  Watt,  and  a  fourth 
of  Sir  Robert  Peel,  the  famous  statesman.  There  are 
other  commemorative  monuments  or  statues  in  the 
city. 

The  carnages  stopped  before  a  gloomy  and  massive 
Gothic  structure,  which  proved  to  be  Glasgow  Cathe 
dral,  described  by  Sir  Walter  Scott  in  Rob  Roy.  It 
is  a  very  ancient  building,  but  has  been  "  restored," 
and  eighty-one  beautiful  stained  glass  windows  added. 
Adjoining  the  Cathedral  is  the  Necropolis,  which  is 
an  immense  burial-ground,  and  the  last  resting-place 
of  some  of  the  most  renowned  Scottish  worthies.  It 
contains  a  noble  and  chaste  monument  to  John  Knox, 
the  fiery  reformer.  From  the  summit  of  the  hill  in 
this  city  of  the  dead,  the  party  obtained  a  fine  pano 
ramic  view  of  the  city,  the  river,  and  the  surrounding 
country,  which  proved  to  be  more  interesting  to  the 
boys  than  deciphering  the  epitaphs  on  the  monuments. 

A  visit  to  the  series  of  parks  on  the  Clyde  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  city  completed  the  round  of  the 
excursion,  and  the  ship's  company  arrived  at  the  rail 
way  station  just  in  time  to  take  the  train  for  Greenock. 
Of  course  they  had  not  thoroughly  explored  Glasgow, 
but  they  had  accomplished  all  the  principal  proposed, 
which  was  to  give  them  "  an  idea  "  of  the  city. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    217 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE    DESERTERS    IN   GLASGOW. 

WITH  aching  heads,  and  stinging  consciences, 
the  three-  runaways  sat  on  the  beds  and 
stared  at  each  other  in  silence,  after  the  full  extent 
of  their  misfortune  had  become  apparent.  Their 
united  funds  would  not  amount  to  more  than  four 
shillings,  which  was  not  enough  to  pay  the  'hotel  bill, 
to  say  nothing  of  going  to  London  and  Paris,  or  even 
of  leaving  Glasgow.  'Each  of  them  was  thoroughly 
ashamed  of  himself,  not  so  much  for  his  vicious  and 
immoral  conduct  as  for  his  weakness  and  stupidity 
in  permitting  himself  to  be  filched  or  robbed  of  his 
money. 

It  was  Sunday  morning.  The  clock  of  a  church  in 
the  vicinity  struck  nine  while  they  sat  staring  in  dumb 
misery  at  each  other,  so  appalled  by  the  fearful  mis 
fortune  which  had  overtajken  them  that  they  could  not 
finish  dressing  themselves.  There  was  no  tyranny  on 
board  the  Young  America  which  bore  so  heavily  upon 
them  as  the  tyranny  of  their  own  misconduct,  and  all 
of.  them  wished  they  had  not  embarked  upon  such  a 
desperate  venture.  They  were  now  fully  convicted 
of  inability  to  manage  their  own  affairs,  and  perhaps 
could  see  the  necessity  of  Mr.  Lowington's  stringent 
regulation  in  regard  to  the  finances  of  the  students. 
19 


2l8  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

These  three  boys,  even  with  the  burden  of  taking 
care  of  themselves  resting  upon  them,  at  the  first 
opportunity  after  they  felt  secure  from  pursuit,  had 
become  intoxicated,  and  lost,  by  gambling  and  being 
robbed,  all  the  money  in  their  possession  but  a  few 
(shillings.  These  facts  were  a  triumphant  vindication 
of  the  principal's  policy ;  and  though  the  deserters 
realized  the  truth,  they  did  not  acknowledge  it  to  each 
other. 

Wilton  was  the  worst  boy  of  the  three,  if  not  the 
worst  belonging  to  the  ship's  company.  His  reckless 
ness  in  the  use  of  the  wine  had  been  the  initial  step 
to  their  present  disgrace  and  helplessness.  He  was 
the  first  to  speak  after  the  long  silence  which  followed 
the  realization  of  the  miseries  of  their  situation.  Each 
was  reproaching  himself  for  his  own  folly,  and  trying 
to  devise  a  plan  by  which  the  party  could  be  extricated 
from  the  desperate  circumstances  which  surrounded 
them. 

"  It's  no  use  to  cry  about  it,"  said  he,  after  he'  had 
made  up  his  mind  what  could  be  done. 

"  Nobody  is  crying  about  it,"  added  Monroe.  "  I'm 
not." 

"  I  think  we  had  better  join  the  Scottish  Temper 
ance  League,"  replied  Pelham,  with  a  faint  attempt 
at  humor. 

"  Or  an  anti-gambling  league,"  suggested  Wilton, 
looking  sourly  at  the  lieutenant. 

"  If  we  hadn't  drank  any  wine,  I  don't  think  we 
should  have  lost  any  money  by  gambling,"  retorted 
Pelham. 

"  You  drank  as  much  wine  as  I  did,"  said  Wilton. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    219 

''  Not  quite ;  at  any  rate  I  didn't  keep  forcing  the 
drinks  upon  others.  One  would  have  thought,  from 
the  way  you  kept  calling  for  sherry,  Wilton,  that  you 
had  a  thousand  pounds  in  your  pocket.  You  treated 
the  whole  crowd  three  or  four  times,  and  then  you 
didn't  know  whether  you  stood  on  your  head  or  your 
heels,"  continued  Pelham,  sharply. 

"  And  one  would  think,  from  the  way  you  gambled, 
that  you  had  ten  thousand  pounds  in  your  pockets," 
added  Wilton,  angrily. 

"  If  a  glass  of  wine  fuddled  me  as  it  does  you,  I 
shouldn't  take  more  than  one." 

"  Lords  and  dukes  don't  play  for  more  than  a  sov 
ereign,  or  so,  but  you  put  down  five." 

"  I  think  the  pot  needn't  call  the  kettle  black,"  said 
Pelham.  "  In  my  opinion  it's  six  one  and  half  a 
dozen  the  other ;  and  we  may  as  well  dry^  up  on  this 
line  of  talk.  We  have  all  been  stupid  and  weak,  and 
*  the  less  we  say  about  it  the  better.  I  gambled  away 
all  my  money  —  " 

"  And  some  of  mine,"  interposed  Monroe,  rather 
viciously.  . 

"  If  I  hadn't. lost  it,  you  would;  but  you  are  two 
sovereigns  better  oft'  than  you  would  have  been  if  I 
hadn't  borrowed  them  of  you,  for  I  shall  pay  all  I 
owe  you,"  replied  Pelham,  with  dignity.  "  I  gam 
bled  away  my  money,  and  you  lost  yours.  We  are  all 
in  the  same  box,  and  we  had  better  not  quarrel  about 
it.  What's  to  be  done?  That's  the  interesting  ques 
tion  now." 

"  I  don't  see  that  there  is  anything  we  can  do," 
replied  Monroe,  despondingly. 


S2O  SHAMKOCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  We  are  not  going  to  be  hang,  or  anything  of  that 
sort,"  said  Pelham,  with  an  effort  to  be  cheerful. 
"  The  case  isn't  half  so  desperate  as  it  might  be." 

"  It's  bad  enough,  any  how,"  added  Wilton.  "  We 
are  cornered  here,  without  any  money ;  and  of  course 
we  can't  go  to  London,  or  anywhere  else.  We  are 
beggars  in  a  strange  land.  I  suppose  we  can  write 
to  Lowington,  and  ask  him  to  get  us  out  of  this 
scrape." 

"  You  may  do  that,  but  I  never  will,"  replied  Pel- 
ham,"  decidedly. 

"  I  don't  want  to  do  it ;  but  there  is  only  one  other 
thing  we  can  do." 

"  What  is  that?"  asked  Pelham,  eagerly,  when  the 
conversation  began  to  take  a  practical  turn. 

"  We  are  all  sailors,  and  we  can  ship  on  board 
some  vessel  bound  to  the  United  States." 

"  Ship  !  What,  go  into  the  forecastle  of  a  mer 
chantman  as  common  sailors !  "  demanded  the  aristo 
cratic  young  lieutenant. 

"Why  not?  We  can  get  home  that  way,  if  we 
can't  get  anywhere  else  ?  " 

"  We  are  not  reduced  to  such  an  extremity  as  that." 

"  Arn't  we?  Well,  I  thought  we  were,"  said  Wil 
ton.  "  It's  no  use  for  you  to  put  on  airs  here,  Pel- 
ham.  We  are  hard  up,  in  a  foreign  country.  You 
can't  borrow,  and  you  don't  want  to  steal.  I  should 
like  to  know  what  you  intend  to  do." 

"  I  think  you  will  have  to  trust  me  in  the  future,  as 
you  have  in  the  past,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  with  ? 
little  pardonable  vanity. 

"  Trust  you ! "    exclaimed   Wilton,  with   a   sneer 


YOUXG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    221 

"  That's  easy  enough  when  we  can't  muster  a  sov 
ereign  among  the  three.  I  don't  know  that  you  are 
any  bigger  man  than  Monroe  or  I." 

"  If  I  hadn't  managed  this  business,  you  would  have 
been  in  the  brig  on  board  of  the  ship  at  this  present 
time." 

"  I  don't  know  that." 

"  I  do  ;  and  if  you  had  taken  my  advice  last  night, 
when  I  told  you  not  to  drink  any  more,  we  should  not 
have  got  into  this  scrape." 

"  You  drank  yourself,  and  gambled  away  all  your 
money  and  some  of  Ike  Monroe's.  You  needn't  say 
anything  !  "  snapped  Wilton. 

"  I  don't  complain  now.  I  only  say  if  you  had 
heeded  me,  we  should  not  have  been  in  trouble." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that." 

"  Don't  quarrel  about  it,  fellows,"  interposed  Mon 
roe,  who  had  proved  himself  to  be  a  cipher  in 
council. 

"  I  don't  care  !  I  don't  believe  in  Gus  Pelham's 
putting  on  airs." 

"  All  right,  Wilt ;  we  won't  have  any  trouble," 
added  the  lieutenant,  rather  haughtily.  "  I  don't  care 
about  being  snubbed  ;  and  since  we  can't  agree,  we 
can  disagree.  I  will  go  my  way,  and  you  may  go 
yours." 

Pelham  rose  from  his  seat  on  the  bed,  and  com 
pleted  his  toilet  without  any  further  remark. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  to-day,  Pelham?" 
fisked  Wilton. 

"  Nothing,"  replied  the  lieutenant.  . 

"To-day  is  Sunday.  I  suppose  we  can't  do  any- 
19* 


222  SHAMROCK    AXD    THISTLE,    OR. 

thing ;  but  I  should  like  to  get  hold  of  that  fellow  that 
took  us  to  the  saloon,"  added  Wilton. 

"  You  can  if  you  like  ;  I  don't  want  anything  to  do 
with  him.  You  can  make  your  plans  now  to  suit 
yourself,  Wilton.  I  told  you  I  wasn't  going  to  be 
snubbed ;  and  what  I  do,  I  shall  keep  to  myself." 

"  Don't  be  so  short,  Gus,"  said  Wilton. 

"  To-morrow  you  can  go  your  way,  and  I  will  go 
mine." 

"  What  do  you  mean? " 

"  I  mean  that  we  will  part  company.  I'm  not  going 
to  have  a  fellow  talk  to  me  about  putting  on  airs.  I 
don't  like  your  way  of  doing  things.  In  the  morn 
ing  we  will  part  company,  and  I  will  sail  on  my  own 
hook." 

"  You  don't  mean  that,  Pelham,"  added  Wilton, 
who,  though  crabbedly  unwilling  to  acknowledge  that 
the  lieutenant  was  the  ablest  and  most  skilful  mana 
ger  in  the  party,  was  not  the  less  conscious  of  the  fact. 

"  I  mean  it." 

"  That  isn't  fair." 

"  Why  not?  If  we  can't  agree,  we  had  better  sepa 
rate.  I  don't  want  to  be  responsible  for  your  blun 
ders,  and  I  won't  ask  you  to  be  responsible  for  mine." 

"  I' don't  know  what  you  mean  by  that  kind  of  talk," 
replied  Wilton,  who  really  felt  that  the  loss  of  Pelham 
would  be  a  great  misfortune. 

"  It's  no  use  for  us  to  run  about  this  country  as  we 
did  last  night.  You  made  friends  with  that  Jock,  and 
he  has  been  the  ruin  of  us.  I  shouldn't  have  done  it. 
You  insisted  upon  drinking,  and  I  couldn't  refuse  with 
out  being  mean.  I  shouldn't  have  done  that.  You 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    223 

wouldn't  mind  what  I  said,  and  here  we  are  head  over 
heels  in  trouble.  Last  night  I  followed  your  lead,  and 
we  are  cleaned  out.  Up  to  this  time  you  followed  my 
lead,  and  we  were  safe.  We  can't  get  along  with 
divided  counsels." 

"  I  suppose  you  mean  that  you  must  be  '  cock  of 
the  walk,'  or  you  will  leave  us,"  said  Wilton,  smartly. 

"  I  mean  just  that,"  added  Pelham,  boldly. 

"  Then  you  may  go  when  you  please.  I  would  as 
lief  have  Lowington  to  tyrannize  over  me  as  you." 

"  All  I  have  to  say  is,  that  one  of  us  must  lead.  I 
won't  follow  your  lead,  and  if  you  won't  follow  mine, 
that  is  the  end  of  the  whole  matter." 

"  I  won't,"  replied  Wilton,  decidedly.  "  I  think  it 
is  mean  for  one  fellow  to  attempt  to  lord  it  over  an' 
other." 

"  There  will  be  no  lording  about  it.  If  you  had 
taken  my  advice  last  night,  we  should  not  have  got 
into  this  scrape.  I  think  I  am  better  able  to  take  care 
of  the  party  than  you  are.  If  you  don't  think  so,  I 
haven't  a  word  to  say.  You  can  go  where  you  like, 
and  I  will  do  the  same.  Nobody's  bones  will  be 
broken  ;  I  shall  not  tyrannize  over  you,  and  you  will 
not  get  me  into  any  scrape." 

"  Come,  come,  fellows,"  interposed  Monroe,  alarmed 
by  this  conflict  for  the  leadership  ;  "  don't  get  into  any 
row." 

"No  row  at  all,"  said  Pelham.  "It's  all  right 
now." 

"  I  don't  ask  to  be  captain,"  added  Wilton  ;  "  and 
I  don't  want  any  ruler  over  me.  If  we  can't  go  as 
equals,  we  won't  go  together  any  longer." 


224  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  All  right,  I'm  going  down  to  get  some  breakfast," 
continued  Pelham,  as  he  put  on  his  cap  and  moved 
towards  the  door. 

"  Don't  go  yet,  Pelham,"  pleaded  Monroe.  "  Let 
us  fix  this  thing  up.  I  am  willing  to  follow  Pelham's 
lead,"  he  added,  turning  to  Wilton,  "  as  we  have  done 
from  the  beginning." 

"  I'm  not,"  added  Wilton,  doggedly.  "  I  haven't 
done  it  yet,  and  I  don't  mean  to  begin  now.  Shall 
we  see  you  again,  Pelham  ?  "  he  asked  with  a  sneering 
smile. 

"  I  shall  not  leave  you  to-day.  To-morrow,  Mon 
roe,  I  will  pay  you  the  two  sovereigns  I  borrowed. 

"Where  will  you  get  the  money?"  demanded 
Wilton. 

"  That's  my  affair,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  sternly. 

"  Where  are  you  going  to-morrow?" 

"  Don't  trouble  yourself  any  more  about  me.  If  I 
want  any  help  from  you,  I  will  call  upon  you  for  it." 

"  And  when  I  want  a  fellow  to  boss  me,  I'll  give 
you  an  invitation  to  take  the  situation,"  sneered  Wil 
ton,  as  Pelham  left  the  room. 

"What  was  the  use  of  doing  that?"  said  Monroe, 
with  deep  disgust  at  the  conduct  of  his  companion. 

"  Do  you  think  I  have  come  here  to  have  a  good 
time,  and  mean  to  submit  to  Gus  Pelham?  He'll  find 
he  isn't  a  lieutenant  here,  if  he  is  on  board  the  ship," 
replied  Wilton,  with  a  proper  exhibition  of  indepen 
dence. 

"  Humph  !  here  we  are  without  any  money,  and 
you  are  splitting  hairs  over  a  silly  question  about  who 
shall  be  the  leader." 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    225 

"  I  don't  want  any  more  tyrants.  I  didn't  sell  out- 
one  to  take  another  aboard  so  soon." 

"  Pelham  is  a  good  fellow,  and  knows  how  to  man 
age  things.  You  can't  deny  that  you  got  us  into  that 
scrape  last  night.  You  made  friends  with  that  Jock, 
and  asked  him  out  to  drink.  You  made  him  take  us 
to  that  gambling  hole." 

"  Are  you  going  to  turn  upon  me,  too?  "  demanded 
Wilton,  indignantly. 

"  You  can't  deny  it,  and  you  don't.  Pelham  told 
you  not  to  drink  any  more,  two  or  three  times.  If 
you  had  heeded  what  he  said,  we  should  have  been 
all  right." 

"  You  are  a  flunky,  Ike  Monroe.  If  you  want  to 
put  yourself  under  Mr.  Pelham's  thumb,  you  can ;  I 
shall  not." 

"  All  I've  got  to  say  is,  if  we  are  going  to  break  up 
in  this  way,  I  am  going  with,  Pelham.  He  is  twice 
as  safe  a  fellow  to  be  with  as  you  are." 

"  Perhaps  he  is  ;  but  he  will  borrow  your  money 
when  he  is  cleaned  out,  as  he  was  last  night." 

"  I  have  no  more  to  lend.  He  promised  to  pay  me 
to-morrow." 

"  And  he  will  —  over  the  left." 

"  He  said  he  would.     I  believe  he  will." 

"  Don't  you  believe  the  moon  is  made  of  green 
cheese?  That's  Gus  Pelham's  gas.  How  can  he  pay 
you  when  he  hasn't  half  a  crown  left?  If  you  want 
to  toady  to  him,  do  it." 

"  I  don't  want  to  toady  to  any  fellow,  and  Gus  Pel- 
ham  don't  want  any  fellow  to  toady  to  him.  But  he's 
a  safe  fellow  to  be  with,  and  I'm  going  with  him." 


226  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"Are  you?"  demanded  Wilton,  as  his  companion 
and  crony  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  I  am." 

"  I'll  bet  you  won't ! " 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because  you  won't.  You  and  I  have  hung  to 
gether  through  a  good  many  scrapes,  and  you  are  not 
going  to  cut  me  now." 

"  Yes,  I  am,  if  you  don't  make  terms  with  Pelham." 

"  I'm  not  going  to  make  terms  with  Pelham,  and 
you  are  not  going  to  cut  me,"  replied  Wilton,  with  a 
malicious  assurance. 

"  What's  the  reason  I'm  not?  " 

"  Because  you  are  not.  If  you  do  one  mean  thing, 
I'll  do  another." 

"What  will  you  do?" 

"  If  you  leave  me,  I'll  look  out  for  myself,  and  put 
Lowington  on  your  track  and  Pelham's  within  forty- 
eight  hours.  He's  over  at  Belfast,  and  it  wouldn't 
take  him  long  to  find  you  after  he  was  informed  that 
you  had  been  in  Glasgow." 

Monroe  threw  his  cap  down  upon  the  bed.  He 
had  not  the  courage  to  cut  his  old  crony,  partly  per 
haps  from  the  inherent  meanness  of  the  act,  and  partly 
from  a  fear  that  Wilton  would  put  his  threat  into  exe 
cution.  Wilton  smiled  at  the  triumph  he  had  achieved 
over  his  irresolute  friend,  and  for  the  moment  forgot 
the  desperate  situation  of  the  party.  But  his  aching 
head  soon  swept  away  his  exhilaration,  and  brought 
him  back  to  the  consciousness  of  his  weak  and  help 
less  situation.  He  did  not  want  any  breakfast.  He 
had  no  appetite  yet,  and  he  was  afraid  the  landlord 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    22/ 

would  wish  to  know  where  the  money  to  pay  the  bill 
was  to  come  from. 

"  Have  you  any  idea  what  you  are  going  to  do, 
Wilt?"  asked  Monroe,  after  he  had  gazed  out  of  the 
window  in  painful  silence  for  a  time. 

"  If  we  can't  do  any  better,  we  can  ship  for  the 
United  States,"  replied  Wilton.  "  I  don't  want  to  do 
that,  but  we  can  if  we  are  obliged  to  do  so.  I'm  going 
to  try  something. better  first." 

"What?" 

"  I'm  going  to  get  my  money  back." 

"  When  you  do,  you  will." 

"  Well,  I  will,  then.  If  I  only  had  my  money,  I 
would  rather  be  without  Pelham  than  with  him." 

"  How  will  you  get  your  money  back,  I  should  like 
to  know  ?  " 

"  Call  on  the  police.  I  had  about  twenty-five  sov 
ereigns  in  my  pocket,  you  see.  That  Jock  took  it  from 
me.  My  head  was  rather  muddy ;  but  I  know  just 
the  time  when  he  put  his  hand  into  my  pocket.  I 
have  an  idea  that  I  can  find  the  rascal.  He  belongs  to 
that  gambling  house,  and  is  sent  out  to  haul  in  flats." 

"  But  where  is  the  gambling  house  ?  I'm  sure  I 
couldn't  find  it." 

"  I  could ;  and  we  will  go  out  and  hunt  it  up  by 
and  by,"  added  Wilton,  with  a  long  gape,  as  he  threw 
himself  upon  the  bed. 

He  had  not  yet  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his 
debauch,  and  presently  he  dropped  asleep.  When 
he  began  to  snore,  Monroe  also  lay  down,  and  soon 
followed  the  example  of  his  friend.  At  twelve  o'clock 
they  waked  again,  feeling  much  better.  They  went 


228  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,   OR 

down  to  the  coffee-room,  and  took  a  light  breakfast. 
Pelham  was  not  in  the  house.  The  landlord  was  as 
polite  as  he  had  been  the  day  before,  and  evidently 
did  not  suspect  that  the  exchequer  of  his  guests  was 
exhausted. 

When  Wilton  and  Monroe  had  finished  their  meal, 
they  left  the  house,  intent  upon  finding  the  place  to 
which  they  had  been  conducted  the  night  before  by 
Jock  Sanderson.  Neither  of  them  had  any  idea  of 
the  route  by  which  they  had  been  led  from  the  gam 
bling  house  to  the  hotel,  and  they  went  first  to  the 
Theatre  Royal.  The  dram-shop  they  had  first  entered, 
after  the  play  was  over,  was  readily  found.  As  neither 
of  them  had  been  very  tipsy  before  they  entered  the 
gambling  saloon,  their  united  observation  enabled  them 
at  last  to  find  the  place.  It  was  closed ;  but  Wilton 
was  much  encouraged  by  his  success. 

While  he  stood  in  front  of  the  house,  telling  Mon 
roe  what  he  intended  to  do  the  next  morning,  a  police 
man  came  along,  and  Wilton,  hoping  to  enlarge  his 
knowledge  of  the  locality,  touched  his  cap,  and  po- 
litely  saluted  the  guardian  of  the  city's  morals. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  what  kind  of  a  house  that  is  op^ 
posite?"  he  asked,  pointing  to  the  building  in  which 
the  gambling  saloon  was  located. 

"  There's  a  dram-shop  in  it,  and  very  like  some 
gambling  is  done  there,"  replied  the  officer. 

"  Very  likely  there  is,"  added  Wiltoa,  significantly. 
u  Do  you  know  anything  of  the  people  who  keep  the 
shop?" 

"  They  are  bad  people,  and  very  sly.  It's  not  a 
regular  gambling  house,  but  they  filch  strangers  of 
their  money  occasionally.  I  am  set  to  watch  them." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IX    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    2*9 

"  Do  you-  know  one  Jock  Sanderson,  who  goes 
there?"  asked  Wilton,  anxiously. 

"  I  never  haird  the  name  before,"  replied  the  police 
man,  with  a  smile.  "  But  the  people  in  yon  house 
have  as  monny  names  as  there  are  feathers  in  a  black 
bird's  tail,"  added  the  officer,  with  more  zeal  than  he 
had  at  first  manifested  ;  for  he  probably  began  to  sus 
pect  that  the  young  sailors  before  him  had  been  vic 
timized  in  the  house. 

Wilton  and  Monroe  described  the  personal  appear 
ance  of  Jock  so  well,  that  the  policeman  declared  it 
was  very  like  a  person  who  frequented  the  place,  and 
who  had  been  once  arrested  for  decoying  a  strangef 
into  the  gambling  den. 

"  Come  to  this  place  to-morrow  morning,  and  I  will 
go  in  with  you,"  added  he.  "  Have  you  been  filched 
in  the  house?" 

"  We  lost  something  there  last  night,"  replied  Wil 
ton,  sheepishly. 

"  Did  you,  man?"  demanded  the  policeman,  eying 
the  young  men  from  head  to  foot.  "  Come  to  me  in  the 
morning,  then,  for  I  shall  be  glad  to  catch  the  rogue 
that  plundered  you." 

"  We  shall  get  our  money,  Ike  !  "  exclaimed  Wilton, 
as  the  policeman  passed  on. 

"  Perhaps  we  may." 

"  I  feel  pretty  sure  of  it.  I  think  we  shall  have  a 
chance  to  tell  Mr.  Pelham  that  it  is  better  to  be 
robbed  than  it  is  to  gamble  your  money  away.  Come, 
we  will  return  to  the  hotel,  for  I  suppose  we  cannot 
do  anything  more  to-day."  • 

As  they  walked  up  the  street  towards  the  theatre, 
20 


230  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLK,    OR 

a  young  man  came  out  of  an  alley  near  the  house 
which  had  been  the  subject  of  the  conversation,  and 
followed  them  till  they  entered  the  hotel.  He  paused 
a  few  moments  at  the  door,  and  then  followed  them  in. 

"  Where  are  the  young  larks  who  are  stopping 
here?"  he  asked'of  the  landlord. 

"  Two 'of  them  have  just  gone  to  their  room." 

"  I  wish  to  see  them." 

"  Show  him  to  No.  19,"  said  the  landlord  to  a  ser 
vant  ;  and  the  young  man  was  conducted  to  the  room 
of  the  deserters. 

Wilton  and  Monroe  had  just  thrown  themselves  on 
the  beds,  lazy  rather  than  tired,  though  both  were  still 
suffering  from  their  intemperance. 

"  I  feel  pretty  sure  we  shall  get  our  money  back," 
said  Wilton. 

"  Don't  be  too  sure." 

"  The  policeman  knew  Jock,  though  I  suppose  that 
is  not  his  real  name.  I  would  like  to  get  my  claws 
upon  that  precious  villain." 

"  You  never  will  see  him  again,  I  fear,"  replied  the 
desponding  Monroe. 

But  at  that  instant  the  door  opened,  and  Jock  San 
derson —  for  he  was  the  young  man  who  had  followed 
them  from  the  alley  near  the  gambling  house — entered 
the  room. 

"Jock!"  exclaimed  Wilton,  springing  from  the 
bed ;  and  his  more  prudent  companion  was  afraid 
he  would  put  his  claws  upon  the  precious  villain. 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  young  gentlemen,"  said  Jock, 
with  every  assurance.  "I  should  have  called  earlier 
in  the  day,  but  that  I  always  make  it  a  rule  to  go  to 
the  kirk  in  the  forenoon." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    231 

"  Do  you,  indeed?"  exclaimed  Wilton. 

"  Always,"  added  Jock,  taking  a  chair.  "  Now 
don't  you  think  you  are  a  pretty  brace  of  young  larks? 
I'll  wager  a  sixpence  you  haven't  been  near  the  kirk 
to-day." 

"  We  certainly  have  not,"  replied  Wilton,  taken  all 
aback  by  the  impudence  of  Jock. 

"You  are  doubtless  sober,  and  I  came  to  let  you 
thank  me  for  the  good  service  I  did  you  last  night," 
continued  Jock, -taking  a  plethoric  purse  from  his 
pocket.  "  Twenty-five  sovereigns  from  one,  and  ten 
from  the  other,"  he  added,  counting  out  the  amounts 
named,  and  handing  each  to  its  owner.  "  Now  you 
may  thank  your  good  fortune  that  you  fell  into  the 
company  of  an  honest  young  man  who  goes  to  the 
kirk." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  demanded  the  amazed 
Wilton,  as  he  took  the  twenty-five  sovereigns. 

"You  were  drunk  last  night, — beastly  drunk  for 
young  boys  as  you  are.  I  was  sure  you  would  be 
robbed  of  every  shilling  you  had,  if  I  didn't  take  care 
of  your  money  for  you.  I  took  it  from  you  when 
you  were  tipsy,  and  now  I  return  it  to  you  when  you 
are  sober.  Take  my  advice  ;  don't  drink,  and  go  to 
the  kirk  every  Sunday,  at  least  once  in  the  day." 

"  You  are  a  good  fellow,  Jock  !  "  exclaimed  Wilton. 
"  Don't  go  yet ;  I'll  send  for  a  bottle  of  wine,  and 
drink  your  health  from  it." 

"  No  ;  I  never  drink  wine  on  Sunday,"  replied  Jock, 
decidedly.  "  Where  is  the  other  lark  that  was  with 
you  ?  " 

"  He's  gone  out." 


232  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  money  he  lost  bj 
gambling." 

"  Certainly  you  have  not,"  said  Wilton,  overjoyed  at 
the  recovery  of  his  money,  and  not  caring  a  straw 
about  Pelham's  losses. 

"  I  saw  you  in  the  street  talking  with  a  policeman," 
continued  Jock.  "  What  was  that  about?  " 

"  We  were  looking  for  the  money  we  had  lost." 

"  Well,  you  have  got  that." 

"  Of  course  we  have  no  further  business  with  the 
police." 

"  You  see,  young  larks,  I  took  your  money  from 
you  to  keep  you  from  losing  it.  You  were  polite  and 
civil  to  me  at  the  theatre,  and  I  wished  to  do  you 
a  good  turn." 

"  You  have  done  it,  and  we  are  very  grateful  to 
you,"  answered  Wilton,  with  enthusiasm. 

"  But  the  policeman  might  annoy  me." 

"  We  will  not  say  anything  more  to  him.  "We  shall 
leave  Glasgow  to-morrow." 

The  answer  seemed  to  satisfy  Jock,  and  declining 
again  the  invitation  to  drink,  he  left  the  room.  Wil 
ton  and  Monroe  were  too  much  bewildered  at  the 
recovery  of  their  lost  funds  to  ask  any  questions ;  but 
the  fact  was,  that  Jock  was  a  regular  gambling  house 
runner.  From  the  window  of  the  house  he  had  seen 
the  policeman  talking  with  his  victims,  and  having 
been  once  arrested,  he  was  fearful  of  the  consequences 
of  his  crime.  For  stealing  thirty-five  pounds,  detec 
tives  would  follow  him  all  over  the  United  Kingdom. 
The  officer  knew  him,  and  he  had  purchased  the 
silence  of  his  dupes  by  restoring  their  money. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    233 

"  I  wonder  where  Pelham  is,"  said  Wilton,  after 
they  had  discussed  the  miraculous  recovery  of  their 
money. 

"  Perhaps  he  is  looking  for  the  money  he  lost," 
replied  Monroe. 

"  He  won't  find  it." 

"  Probably  not." 

"We  can  aflbrd  to  ride  the  high  horse  now.  We 
can  give  him  one,  and  beat  him  then,"  chuckled 
Wilton. 

"  We  can  help  him  out  now." 

"  We  can  ;  but  we  won't." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  let  him  go  now  we  have  got  oui 
money  back?" 

"  Certainly  I  do  ;  we  can  afford  to  let  him  go. 
Ike,  don't  you  say  a  word  to  him  about  what  has  hap 
pened.  I  want  to  see  what  he  will  do,  and  whether 
he  is  mean  enough  to  leave  us.  If  he  is,  let  him  go. 
Don't  you  say  a  word,  nor  give  him  a  hint.  If  you 
do,  I'll  cut  you." 

"  I  won't." 

"  No  fellow  shall  boss  me." 

Pelham  did  not  come  to  the  room  again  till  bed 
time.  He  said  nothing  about  the  separation,  and  his 
shipmates  did  not  reveal  the  good  fortune  which  had 
astounded  them  in  the  afternoon. 

The  next  morning  Pelham  got  up  earlier  than  his 
room-mates,  and  went  out.  At  ten  o'clock  he  re 
turned. 

"  Monroe,  here  are  the  two  sovereigns  I  borrowed 
of  you,"  said  he,  handing  him  the  money.     "  Now, 
good  by,  fellows." 
20* 


234  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

He  paid  his  bill  at  the  bar  below,  and  left  the 
house. 

"  He  has  raised  the  wind  somehow  or  other,"  said 
Monroe. 

"  Yes ;  but  I  see  he  no  longer  wears  the  gold  watch 
and  chain,  which  he  used  to  say  was  worth  more  than 
any  other  fellow's  in  the  ship.  I'll  bet  he  didn't  get 
twenty  pounds  for  both,  though  they  were  worth  forty. 
Let  him  go." 

Pelham  took  the  next  train  for  Balloch  Pier  and 
Loch  Lomond. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    235 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THE   LAND    OF   BURNS. 

AFTER  study  hours  on  the  day  following  the 
excursion  to  Glasgow,  the  officers  and  crew 
of  the  Young  America  embarked  in  the  boats  for  a 
visit  to  Dumbarton,  about  seven  miles  up  the  river. 
Though  the  town  is  a  very  pretty  place,  the  principal 
object  of  interest  is  the  castle,  which  is  located  on  the 
point  of  land  between  the  Clyde  and  the  Leve'n.  It 
is  built  on  Dumbarton  Rock,  which  rises  abruptly 
from  the  point  of  junction  between  the  two  rivers  to 
the  height  of  five  hundred  and  sixty  feet.  It  is  about 
a  mile  in  circumference,  and  is  crowned  by  two  pin* 
nacles,  the  highest  of  which  is  called  Wallace's  Seat, 
whereon  are  the  ruins  of  a  tower  in  which  Wallace 
was  confined.  A  two-handed  sword  is  exhibited  as 
his  celebrated  claymore. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  Professor  Mapps,  when 
the  ship's  company  had  seated  themselves  to  rest  after 
the  fatigues  of  the  ascent,  "  this  is  a  place  of  great 
historic  interest.  It  was  one  of  the  four  fortified  places 
required  to  be  kept  in  repair  when  England  and  Scot 
land  were  united,  and  has  been  a  stronghold  for  more 
than  a  thousand  years.  During  the  wars  between 
England  and  Scotland,  in  the  time  of  Mary  Queen  of 


236  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

Scots,  when  Henry  VIII.  was  endeavoring  to  con 
quer  this  kingdom,  it  was  the  scene  of  several  impor 
tant  events.  The  King  of  France  espoused  the  cause 
of  Mary,  and  sent  a  fleet  and  army  to  assist  the  Scotch. 
As  the  young  queen,  then  only  six  years  old,  was  not 
safe  in  her  own  disturbed  kingdom,  it  was  deemed 
advisable  by  her  friends  to  convey  her  to  France. 
She  was  brought  to  this  place  from  Stirling,  and  em 
barked  in  a  French  man-of-war  which  lay  in  the  river 
below  us. 

"  This  fortress  was  captured  in  the  reign  of  Mary, 
in  a  very  remarkable  manner,  by  Captain  Crawford, 
one  of  the  English  king's  adherents.  On  a  very  dark 
night,  with  a  small  party  of  picked  men,  he  conveyed 
his  scaling  ladders  to  a  point  beneath  the  highest  and 
steepest  part  of  the  rock,  concluding  that  it  would  be 
less  vigilantly  guarded  than  the  more  exposed  posi 
tions.  He  was  assisted  by  a  deserter  from  the  castle, 
who  was  to  act  as  his  guide.  The  first  ladder  that 
was  raised  broke  beneath  the  weight  of  the  soldier 
who  ascended  it;  but  as  no  sentinels  were  within- 
hearing  of  this  part  of  the  rock,  the  noise  did  not 
betray  the  party,  and  Crawford  renewed  the  attempt 
in  person.  The  first  precipice  was  successfully  scaled, 
and  the  bold  little  band  stood  on  a  shelf  of  the  rock, 
ready  to  attempt  the  second  height.  The  scaling  lad 
der  was  placed  in  position  for  this  purpose,  and  the 
adventurers  commenced  the  ascent.  When  half  way 
up,  one  of  the  soldiers  was  seized  with  an  epileptic 
fit,  brought  on  by  terror  or  over-exertion,  and  could 
neither  go  up  nor  down.  It  was  cruel  to  throw  him 
over,  and  the  noise  of  his  fall  might  alarm  the  garri- 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    237 

son ;  so  Crawford  lashed  him  to  the  ladder.  The 
party  descended,  turned  the  ladder  over,  and  went  up 
with  the  man  tied  to  the  under  side.  The  summit  of 
the  rock  was  gained,  a  sleepy  sentinel  killed  before  he 
had  time  to  give  the  alarm,  and  the  garrison  effectually 
surprised." 

"  But  what  became  of  the  man  in  the  fit?"  asked 
one  of  the  students,  when  the  professor  ended  his  nar 
rative. 

"  I  don't  know ;  I  suppose  they  hoisted  him  up  or 
down  when  they  had  more  time  to  spare,"  laughed 
Mr.  Mapps.  "  I  do  not  vouch  for  the  truth  of  the 
story,  for  such  events  are  very  often  grossly  exagger 
ated.  At  a  later  period,  and  under  more  prosperous 
circumstances,  Mary  visited  the  rock  again  ;  and 
Queen  Victoria,  on  her  way  to  the  Highlands,  in  18475 
stopped  at  the  castle." 

The  boats  returned  to  the  ship  at  an  early  hour,  and 
as  soon  as  they  were  hoisted  up  at  the  davits,  to  the 
astonishment  of  the  crew,  all  hands  were  piped  to 
unmoor  ship.  When  the  anchor  was  hove  short,  and 
the  sail-loosers  were  at  work  in  the  rigging,  a  party 
of  a  dozen  ladies  and  gentlemen  came  off  in  a  shore- 
boat  with  Mr.  Fluxion.  A  pilot  was  already  on  board, 
and  in  a  few  moments  the  Young  America  was  stand 
ing  down  the  river.  As  soon  as  the  ship  was  under 
way,  the  party  from  the  shore  were  introduced  to  the 
officers.  Among  them  were  four  young  ladies  and 
two  young  gentlemen,  with  whom  the  after-cabin 
officers  were  soon  on  very  intimate  terms. 

"  This  was  rather  a  sudden  movement,  —  was  it 
not?"  asked  Paul  of  his  friend,  the  doctor. 


238  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  It  was  decided  upon  this  forenoon  ;  but  we  arc 
not  going  far  to-night,"  replied  the  surgeon. 

"How  far?" 

"  We  shall  anchor  in  Rothesay  Bay,  at  the  Island 
of  Bute.  It  is  not  more  than  fifteen  miles  distant,  and 
if  the  breeze  holds  we  shall  be  there  by  nine  o'clock. 
You  have  pleasant  company,  Paul,"  added  Dr.  Win- 
stock. 

"  Not  so  pleasant  as  it  was  in  Belfast,"  laughed  the 
lieutenant. 

"No?  Why,  Miss  Rose  McLeish  is  the  prettiest 
girl  I  have  seen  in  the  United  Kingdom." 

"  That  may  be  ;  but  she  don't  please  me  as  well  as 
a  certain  young  lady  I  met  in  Belfast,"  added  Paul, 
desperately,  and  with  a  blush  in  spite  of  his  effort  to 
be  brave. 

"Miss  Grace  Arbuckle  —  well,  I  suppose  not.  By 
the  way,  Paul,  have  you  written  to  Grace,  as  you 
promised?" 

"  Of  course  I  have." 

"  How  many  times?  " 

"  Three ;  twice  while  we  were  in  the  north  of  Ire 
land,  and  once  since  we  anchored  here,"  replied  Paul, 
who  looked  just  then  as  though  he  was  counting  the 
seams  in  the  quarter-deck. 

"  You  must  keep  cool,  my  young  friend.  Once  a 
month,  I  should  say,  would  be  often  enough  for  a  boy 
of  sixteen  to  write  to  a  young  lady,"  added  the  doctor, 
a  little  more  solemnly.  "  Of  course  they  were  love 
letters." 

"  Of  course  they  were  not,  sir.  I  never  wrote  a 
love-letter  in  my  life,  and  I  don't  think  I  ever  shall. 
Do  you  think,  doctor,  I'm  such  a  fool  as  that?  " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    239 

"  I  think  you  like  Miss  Grace  very  well,  Paul." 

"  So  I  do,  as  a  friend." 

"  Exactly  so,"  replied  Dr.  Winstock,  with  a  signifi 
cant  nod.  "  How  long  letters  did  you  write  ?  " 

"  From  eight  to  twelve  pages  ;  but  I  only  told  her 
about  the  ship,  and  what  we  saw  at  the  Giant's  Cause 
way.  In  the  last  one,  which  was  twelve  pages,  I  de- 
sciibed  our  run  from  Port  Rush,  and  what  we  did  and 
saw  in  Glasgow  and  Greenock,"  replied  Paul,  quite 
earnest  in  defending  himself  from  the  charge  of  writ 
ing  love-letters. 

"Is  that  all?" 

"  Of  course  I  couldn't  help  alluding  to  the  pleasant 
time  we  had  in  Belfast,  and  on  the  excursion  to  Arran. 
I'm  sure  I  never  had  such  a  good  time  in  all  my  life." 

"  I  suppose  not.  Do  you  think  you  would  have 
had  just  as  good  a  time  if  Miss  Grace  had  not  been 
on  board?" 

"  Certainly  not  ;  but  I  am  entirely  willing  that 
Grace  should  show  my  letters  to  her  father  and 
mother." 

"  Then  it  must  be  all  right,  Paul." 

"  Why,  I  wrote  to  her  just  as  I  do  to  my  sister ; 
and  I  will  show  you  her  letter,  if  I  get  one,"  added 
the  lieutenant. 

"  I  do  not  ask  that,  Paul,  and  I  should  not  read  one 
of  Miss  Arbuckle's  letters  to  you.  I  only  wished  to 
say  that  you  are  rather  young  to  open  a  sentimental 
correspondence  with  a  young  lady.  If  you  confine 
it  to  writing  about  your  travels  and  the  history  of  the 
ship's  movements,  it  will  all  be  very  well.  Captain 
Gordon  seems  to  appreciate  Miss  McLeish,  if  you 


240  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

don't,"  added  the  doctor,  as  he  glanced  to  the  weather, 
side,  where  the  guests  were  promenading  with  some 
of  the  officers  and  the  faculty. 

"Well,  lads,  you  have  a  jolly  time  of  it,"  said 
Arthur  McLeish,  a  young  gentleman  of  sixteen,  as 
he  stepped  up  to  the  second  lieutenant. 

"  Speaking  for  myself,  I  can  say  we  do,"  replied 
Paul. 

"You  must  have  fine  times  on  board,"  added  the 
Scotch  boy.  "  I  wonder  could  I  get  into  the  ship." 

"  I'm  afraid  not.  Our  number  is  full,  and  every 
berth  is  taken.  But  it  isn't  all  fun  on  board,  I  can 
tell  you.  We  have  to  work  hard  at  our  studies,  and 
perhaps  you  wouldn't  like  to  stand  your  watch  at 
night  in  a  cold  north-east  gale,"  suggested  Paul. 

"  O,  I  wouldn't  mind  that.  My  father  is  going  to 
try  to  get  me  in  as  a  pupil.  Are  all  the  berths  in 
the  cabin  taken  ?  " 

"  In  the  cabin  !  "  exclaimed  Paul.  "  Do  you  expect 
to  begin  as  an  officer?" 

"  Sairt'nly  I  do,"  replied  the  applicant. 

"  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  go  as  captain." 

"  That  would  just  suit  me  as  well  as  anything," 
replied  Arthur,  seriously. 

"  Our  fourth  lieutenant  is  away,  and  perhaps  you 
are  willing  to  take  his  place,"  laughed  Paul. 

"  I  would  even  take  that." 

"  Perhaps  your  father  can  induce  the  principal  to 
give  you  that  berth." 

"  I  will  ask  him  at  once  to  try,"  continued  the  ap 
plicant,  as  he  began  to  move  towards  the  place  where 
Mr.  Lowington  was  talking  with  the  older  of  his 
gjuests. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    241 

"  Hold  on  a  minute  ! "  called  Paul.  "  Perhaps 
you  are  not  aware  that  the  officers  have  to  take  charge 
of  the  ship  during  their  watch.  Can  you  tell  me 
what  orders  you  would  give  when  the  ship  is  to  go 
in  stays." 

"  Go  in  what?     I  don't  know  what  you  mean." 

"  What  would  you  say  to  the  quartermaster,  if  you 
wished  -to  put  the  ship  on  the  other  tack." 

u  I  haven't  the  least  idea." 

"  Then  I  fear  you  would  not  answer  for  an  officer," 
replied  Paul,  good  naturedly. 

u  I  could  soon  lairn." 

But  Paul,  without  u  putting  on  airs,"  convinced  the 
young  Scotch  gentleman  that  he  was  not  competent 
to  be  an  officer.  Then  he  took  him  down  into  the 
steerage,  and  showed  him  how  the  crew  lived  and 
studied,  explained  to  him  the  routine  of  ship's  duty,  and 
of  study  ;  and  Arthur  was  finally  reasonable  enough  to 
say  he  would  like  to  join  the  ship  as  an  occupant 
of  the  steerage,  which  was  certainly  very  condescend 
ing  in  him. 

At  nine  o'clock,  the  wind  still  blowing  fresh  from 
the  north-west,  the  ship  came  to  anchor  off  Rothesay, 
at  the  head  of  the  bay.  The  visitors  on  board  were 
landed,  and  went  to  a  hotel,  as  there  were  not  accom 
modations  on  board  for  them. 

After  study  hours,  the  next  day,  the  whole  ship's 
company  went  on  shore  to  visit  Rothesay  Castle,  once 
the  residence  of  the  kings  of  Scotland,  and  to  take  a 
run  upon  the  island.  At  five  o'clock  the  crew  and  the 
guests  were  on  board  again.  The  ship  was  unmoored, 
and,  in  charge  of  a  pilot,  sailed  to  the  southward  ;  but 
21 


242  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

the  wind  was  very  light,  and  it  was  not  till  sunrise 
the  next  'morning  that  she  anchored  off  Ayr.  The 
officers  had  given  up  the  after-cabin  to  the  guests, 
when  it  was  found  that  the  ship  could  not  reach  her 
anchorage  that  night,  sleeping  in  vacant  berths  or 
on  the  floor  in  the  steerage. 

It  was  Sunday  when  the  ship  dropped  anchor  in 
the  harbor  of  Ayr ;  and  though  Mr.  Lowington  of 
fered  to  land  the  guests  in  the  morning,  none  of  the 
students  were  permitted  to  go  on  shore.  Religious 
services  were  held  under  the  awnings  on  deck,  which 
were  attended  by  all  on  board.  Towards  night  the 
party  from  Greenock  were  landed. 

At  the  usual  hour  for  recreation,  the  boats  were 
lowered,  and  all  hands  went  on  shore  at  Ayr,  which 
is  the  birthplace  of  Burns,  the  national  poet  of  Scot 
land.  The  town  and  its  vicinity  is  generally  called 
The  Land  of  Burns.  "The  Two  Brigs  of  Ayr" 
were  pointed  out  to  them  by  the  Scotch  people  in 
the  party ;  but  there  was  hardly  one  among  them  who 
ever  heard  of  the  poem  relating  to  them. 

"Never  haird  of  the  brigs  of  Ayr!"  exclaimed 
Arthur  McLeish,  when  Paul  Kendall  confessed  that 
he  was  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  any  such  poem. 
"  You  must  be  vairy  ignorant  in  Amairica." 

"  We  are ;  we  don't  know  anything.  Of  course 
you  have  read  the  poem." 

"  Indeed  I  have.  It's  about  two  bridges,  one  of 
which  talked  to  the  other,"  replied  Arthur. 

"  Do  you  think  it  a  better  poem  than  Evangeline?" 

"  I  never  haird  of  Evangeline." 

"  Never  heard  of  it !  "  exclaimed  Paul.  "  How 
ignorant  you  must  be  here  in  Scotland  ?  " 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    243 

"Who  wrote  it?" 

"  Mr.  Longfellow." 

"  Who  is  he?  He's  no'  much  of  a  poet,  or  I  should 
have  haird  of  him.  Sairt'nly  you  will  not  think  of 
comparing  him  with  Robert  Burns." 

"  I  never  read  anything  written  by  Burns  that  I 
liked  half  as  well  as  the  Launching  of  the  Ship." 

"  That's  all  because  you  are  a  sailor.  I  like  Burnr 
better  than  any  other  poet." 

"•  That's  all  because  you  are  a  Scotchman,"  laughed 
Paul. 

Carriages  were  provided  for  the  ladies,  and  the  gen 
tlemen  who  preferred  to  ride  ;  but  the  students  elected 
to  walk,  for  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Ayr  is  beau 
tiful. 

"  Mayhap  you  never  haird  of  Tam  O'Shanter," 
said  Arthur,  as  they  approached  the  ruins  of  Alloway 
Kirk,  the  neighborhood  of  which  is  the  scene  of  that 
celebrated  poem. 

"  Yes,  I  have  —  read  it  through,  in  spite  of  the 
uncouth  words  and  phrases  it  contains,"  replied  Paul, 
to  whom  the  young  Scotchman  had  attached  himself. 

"  The  uncouth  words  and  phrases  are  the  beauty 
of  the  poem,"  added  Arthur,  with  enthusiasm. 

u  To  a  Scotchman  they  may  be." 

"  We  think  there  is  no  poet  in  the  world  like  Burns." 

After  a  walk  of  two  miles  from  the  town  of  Ayr, 
the  party  reached  the  cottage  where  Burns  was  born. 
The  original  structure  remains  as  it  was  in  the  poet's 
day  ;  but  additions  have  been  made  in  the  rear.  It 
originally  had  but  two  rooms,  the  kitchen  and  the 
sitting-room.  The  floor  was  of  rough  stones,  very 


244. 


SHAMROCK  AND    THISTLE,    OR 


unevenly  laid ;  and  of  the  two  windows,  one  was 
only  about  a  foot  square.  The  house  was  built  by  the 
poet's  father. 

In  the  churchyard  of  Alloway  Kirk  is  the  grave  of 
Burns's  father,  marked  by  a  plain  tombstone,  which 
was  erected  to  supply  the  place  of  the  original  one, 
carried  off  in  fragments  by  relic-hunters.  The  church 
was  dilapidated  in  the  poet's  time,  and  had  the  repu 
tation  of  being  haunted  ;  and  this  popular  superstition 
is  the  groundwork  of  Tarn  O'Shanter,  who,  in  his 
ride  home  from  the  ale-house  in  Ayr,  where  he  had 
drank  too  much,  encountered  all  the  witches  and  the 
fiends  that  lurked  about  the  kirk  and  the  graveyard. 

"  Kirk  Alloway  was  drawing  nigh, 
Where  ghosts  and  howlets  nightly  cry." 

The  ghostly  crew  give  chase  to  the  luckless  Tarn,  who 
spurs  on  Meg,  the  good  mare  he  rides. 

"  Now  do  thy  speedy  utmost,  Meg, 
And  win  the  keystane  o'  the  brig; 
There  at  them  thou  thy  tail  may  toss ; 
A  running  stream  they  darena  cross !  " 

But  when  Tarn  reached  the  "  brig"  poor  Meg  had  no 
tail  to  toss,  for  the  foremost  of  the  pursuing  host  of 
demons  had  caught  the  beast  by  the  tail,  and  pulled 
it  off!  It  is  fortunate  that  there  is  always  some  way 
to  get  rid  of  witches  and  fiends ;  that  horse-shoes  have 
wonderful  virtues  ;  that  certain  words  have  wonderful 
potency ;  and  Tarn  O'Shanter's  salvation  rested  in  the 
"well-known  fact"  that  the  diabolical  band  could  not 
pursue  their  victim  beyond  die  middle  of  the  nearest 
running  stream. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    .245 

The  visitors  walked  to  the  river,  and  Mr.  McLeish 
pointed  out  the  "  auld  brig  o'  Doon,"  whose  "  key- 
stane  "  had  been  the  objective  point  of  the  hero  of  the 
poem.  Crossing  this  bridge,  the  party  reached  the 
Burns  monument.  It  is  a  memorial  structure,  for 
Burns  died  and  was  buried  at  Dumfries.  The  monu 
ment  is  an  open  temple,  on  a  high  base  of  granite, 
having  nine  pillars  to  represent  the  nine  Muses,  and 
surmounted  by  a  dome.  The  grounds,  which  are 
tastefully  laid  out,  contain  an  acre  and  a  quarter  of 
land.  In  a  circular  room  on  the  ground  floor,  various 
mementos  of  the  poet  are  exhibited,  including  copies 
of  the  various  editions  of  his  works,  copies  of  the 
several  original  portraits,  a  snuff-box  made  of  wood 
from  the  timbers  of  Alloway  Kirk,  and —  more  valua 
ble  than  all  the  rest  —  the  Bible  given  by  Burns  to  his 
Highland  Mary,  which  was  purchased  in  Canada,  and 
presented  to  the  trustees.  In  a  grotto  near  the  enclo. 
sure  are  exhibited  the  statues  of  Tarn  O'Shanter,  and 
Souter  Johnnie,  his  boon  companion. 

The  excursionists  spent  another  hcur  in  wandering 
on  the  banks  of  the  Doon,  which  still  "  bloom  sae 
fresh  and  fair."  The  country  was  very  beautiful,  and 
the  boys,  without  knowing  much  of  what  the  poet 
had  done  to  immortalize  it,  were  delighted  with  the 
scenery.  Mr.  McLeish,  who  had  the  history  of  Burns 
at  his  tongue's  end,  was  full  of  enthusiasm  on  the 
subject.  He  told  those  who  cared  to  hear  him,  that 
the  poet  lived  at  Mauchline  and  Mossgeil,  carrying  on 
a  farm  with  his  brother  Gilbert ;  and  at  these  places 
he  wrote  some  of  his  best  poems.  He  was  unsuccess 
ful  in  his  farming  scheme,  and  published  an  edition 

21  * 


SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,  OR 

of  his  poetry  at  Kilmarnock,  to  raise  the  money  to 
enable  him  to  emigrate  to  Jamaica.  He  had  paid  his 
passage  ;  but  the  friends  of  Jane  Armour,  afterwards 
his  wife,  prevented  him  from  leaving.  He  went  to 
Edinburgh,  where  he  remained  a  year,  and  published 
an  edition  of  his  works.  He  returned  home  with  five 
hundred  pounds,  half  of  which  he  paid  his  brother 
for  the  farm  at  Mossgeil,  and  used  the  balance  in 
stocking  a  farm  for  himself  in  Dumfriesshire.  He 
was  made  an  officer  of  excise,  which  yielded  him 
from  fifty  to  seventy  pounds  a  year.  His  dissolute 
habits  and  the  cares  of  his  office  caused  him  to  neglect 
his  farm  ;  and  as  it  paid  him  nothing,  he  was  obliged 
to  give  it  up.  His  life  in  Dumfries,  as  it  had  been 
before,  was  a  continued  struggle  with  poverty,  as  it 
must  be  with  all  tipplers.  His  constitution  was  deli 
cate,  and  his  bad  habits  made  such  inroads  upon  it, 
that  it  was  completely  broken  down,  and  he  died  at 
the  early  age  of  thirty-seven. 

Burns  was  a  remarkable  man.  His  genius  was  of 
the  highest  order,  and  he  was  admired  and  petted  in 
private  by  those  who,  on  account  of  his  dissipated 
habits,  would  not  acknowledge  him  in  the  street. 
His  popularity  was  immense  in  all  classes  of  society, 
and  his  funeral  was  attended  by  vast  multitudes  from 
all  parts  of  the  country.  His  poetry  came  from  the 
deepest  depths  of  his  heart,  which  was  attuned  to  the 
most  delicate  emotions.  While  there  is  much  to  con 
demn,  both  in  the  poet's  life  and  in  his  works,  there 
is  so  much  to  admire,  that  one  can  hardly  think  of  his 
faults  while  moved  by  the  brilliancy  and  pathos  of  his 
works. 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    247 

Though  it  was  nearly  dark  when  the  ship's  com 
pany  arrived  on  board,  the  Young  America  was  got 
under  way  immediately.  As  only  a  quarter  watch 
was  required  on  deck  in  ordinary  weather,  it  was  not 
considered  any  great  hardship  to  make  the  run  back 
to  Greenock  by  night,  and  before  daylight  she  was  at 
her  former  anchorage  in  the  Clyde,  the  visitors  return 
ing  from  Ayr  by  railroad. 

Early  in  the  morning,  Mr.  McLeish  and  his  son 
came  on  board,  and  after  some  conversation  with  the 
principal,  Arthur  was  provided  with  a  uniform,  and 
the  berth  belonging  to  Wilton  was  assigned  to  him. 
It  appeared  that  he  had  teased  his  father,  who  had, 
with  much  persuasion,  induced  Mr.  Lowington  to  re 
ceive  him. 

"  Here  I  am,  Paul,"  said  the  young  Scotchman, 
walking  up  to  the  second  lieutenant  on  the  quarter 
deck,  as  soon  as  he  had  dressed  himself  in  his  sea-rig. 
"  Don't  I  look  like  a  sailor?  " 

"  Not  on  the  quarter-deck,"  said  Paul,  with  a  smile. 
"  Seamen  are  not  allowed  abaft  the  mizzen-mast." 

"  The  mizzen-mast?"  added  Arthur,  inquiringly. 

"  That  one,"  replied  Paul,  pointing  to  it. 

"  Mr.  Lowington  is  a  friend  of  my  father,  and  he 
won't  mind  it.  I  was  going  down  into  the  cabin  to 
have  a  talk  with  you." 

"  Into  the  cabin !  "  exclaimed  Paul,  laughing. 

"  Yes,  into  the  cabin :  that's  what  I  said." 

"  But  you  mustn't  go  into  the  cabin." 

"What's  to  hinder?" 

"  There  are  more  than  fifty  of  the  students  forward 
who  never  set  a  foot  in  the  after-cabin.  They  are  not 
allowed  to  do  so." 


248  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  I'll  no  stand  that,"  said  Arthur.  "  What's  the 
hairm  of  my  going  into  the  cabin?" 

"  It  is  contrary  to  the  rules  of  the  ship." 

"  Don't  you  see  that  Mr.  Lowington  is  a  friend  of 
my  father?" 

"  That  will  make  no  difference.  Mr.  Lowington 
serves  all  alike.  If  you  work  your  way  into  the  cabin, 
it  will  be  all  right.  Yesterday  you  were  a  guest ; 
to-day  you  are  a  sailor.  You  must  leave  the  quarter 
deck,  or  there  will  be  trouble." 

"  Can't  a  seaman  speak  to  an  officer?  " 

"  He  may ;  but  he  must  not  go  on  the  quarter-deck 
to  do  it,  nor  anywhere  when  the  officer  is  on  duty, 
unless  he  speaks  about  the  business  '  of  the  ship.' " 

"  Hoot,  man  !  This  is  all  nonsense  !  "  exclaimed 
Arthur,  in  disgust. 

"  While  you  were  on  board  the  ship  as  a  guest,  did 
you  see  any  of  the  seamen  in  the  cabin  or  on  the 
quarter-deck  ?  " 

"I  didn't  obsairve  —  yes,  indeed,  I  did!  I  saw 
twenty  of  them  pulling  yon  ropes." 

"  Of  course ;  to  set  the  spanker,  or  trim  the  sails, 
they  must  go  on  the  quarter-deck ;  but  never,  unless 
they  have  something  to  do,  or  when  ordered  there. 
You  saw  none  of  them  in  the  cabin,"  continued  Paul, 
walking  forward  himself  in  order  to  get  the  new  hand 
out  of  trouble.  "  The  ship's  rules  are  hung  up  in  the 
steerage,  where  you  can  read  them." 

"  I  was  going  to  ask  you  what  I  should  do  ;  but  I'll 
no  stand  it  to  have  a  parcel  of  Yankee  boys  lording 
it  over  me." 

"  The  officers  will  treat  you  well ;  but  you  must 
obey  orders,  and  keep  in  your  place." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    24*) 

"  My  place  will  be  where  I  choose  to  go,"  replied 
Arthur,  with  spirit. 

Paul  attempted  to  reason  with  him  ;  but  while  he 
was  engaged  in  this  up-hill  work,  the  ship's  company 
were  piped  to  muster,  and  a  small  steamer  -was  ap 
proaching  the  ship  from  Greenock.  Breakfast  had 
been  served  at  an  early  hour,  and  it  was  plain  that 
something  was  about  to  happen.  Mr.  Lowington  took 
his  stand,  and  presented  Arthur  McLeish  as  a  new 
scholar.  He  then  announced"  that  the  steamer  ap 
proaching  the  ship  would  convey  the  party  to  Dum 
barton,  where  they  would  take  the  train  for  Loch 
Lomond,  the  Trosachs,  and  Edinburgh,  not  to  return 
till  Saturday. 

This  information  was  received  with  three  hearty 
cheers ;  and  the  students,  who  had  been  before  re 
quired  to  put  on  their  best  uniforms,  were  sent  below 
to  bring  up  their  little  bags  and  blankets  for  the 
trip. 

"  I  suppose  I'm  to  go  with  you,"  said  Arthur ; 
"  though  I  would  rather  stay  on  board  of  the  ship." 

"  Of  course  you  will,"  answered  Paul. 

"  What  a  piping !  "  exclaimed  the  new  scholar^ 
as  the  boatswain's  whistle  sounded,  a  few  moments 
later. 

"  All  hands  aboard  the  steamer  !  "  shouted  the  boat 
swain  ;  and  in  a  short  time  the  ship's  company  were 
landed  at  Dumbarton,  where  they  took  the  train  for 
Balloch  Pier,  at  the  foot  of  Loch  Lomond,  where  in 
fifteen  minutes  more  they  arrived. 


250  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
PELHAM'S  ADVENTURE. 

WHATEVER  else  may  be  said  of  Pelham's 
conduct  in  leaving  his  companions,  he  was 
certainly  straightforward.  He  spoke  his  mind  and 
acted  his  convictions.  Though  he  was  not  opposed 
on  principle  to  taking  a  glass  of  wine,  or  even  to 
gambling,  he  was  unwilling  to  follow  the  reckless 
leadings  of  Wilton.  He  did  not  desire  to  direct  the 
movements  of  the  trio  because  he  simply  wished  to 
exercise  the  power  this  position  would  confer  upon 
him,  but  to  save  the  expedition  from  any  further  dis 
aster. 

He  had  ability  and  discretion,  in  which  his  fellow- 
deserters  were  sadly  lacking.  He  was  a  bold  and 
determined  fellow,  and  only  needed  the  firm  founda 
tion  of  a  high  principle  to  make  him  an  entirely  re 
liable  one.  He  possessed  a  high  sense  of  honor,  as 
he  understood  the  meaning  of  this  word,  and  there 
were  many  noble  traits  in  his  character.  He  fully 
believed  that  Wilton  was  the  author  of  the  misfor 
tunes  which  had  befallen  them,  and  with  the.  ideas 
of  discipline  he  had  obtained  on  board  of  the  ship, 
he  foresaw  nothing  but  trouble  and  disaster  if  Wilton 
was  permitted  to  have  his  own  way. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.  251 

He  paid  Monroe  the  two  sovereigns  he  had  bor 
rowed  of  him  from  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  his 
watch  and  chain,  which  had  broxight  only  fifteen 
pounds ;  and  when  he  had  done  this,  he  felt  that 
"  honor "  required  nothing  more  of  him.  On  the 
thirteen  pounds  in  his  pocket  after  he  had  discharged 
this  "  debt  of  honor,"  he  intended  to  travel  as  economi 
cally  as  possible  to  London,  by  the  way  of  Loch  Lo 
mond  and  Edinburgh. 

Taking  the  eleven  o'clock  train  from  Glasgow,  with 
an  excursion  ticket  which  was  good  for  one  month, 
he  reached  Inversnaid  about  two  o'clock.  He  had 
come  from  Balloch  Pier  by  the  steamer ;  but  a  tre 
mendous  shower  commenced  just  as  the  boat  left  the 
wharf,  and  he  was  unable  to  see  the  scenery  of  the 
lake,  for  the  saloon  on  deck  was  crowded,  and  he  was 
forced  to  seek  shelter  from  the  drenching  storm  in  the 
lower  cabin.  Being  a  young  man,  with  a  taste  for  the 
sublime  and  beautiful  in  nature  and  art,  he  was  greatly 
disappointed.  Through  the  round  ports,  by  which  the 
cabin  was  lighted,  he  obtained  a  partial  view  of  the 
beauties  of  the  locality ;  but  Ben  Lomond  was  ob 
scured  in  mists,  arid  the  fair  islands  were  reeking  with 
moisture. 

As  the  steamer  approached  Tai'bet,  the  storm  ceased, 
and  he  was  in  a  measure  compensated  for  what  he  had 
lost  by  a  scene  which  can  only  be  observed  after  a  heavy 
fall  of  rain.  The  summit  of  Ben  Lomond  was  buried 
in  the  black  clouds ;  but  as  the  sun  came  out,  its  glit- 
teiing  sheen  was  reflected  in  ten  thousand  miniature 
cascades  upon  the  mountain  sides,  presenting  a  mag 
nificent  spectacle,  which  enchained  the  attention  of  all 


252  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

who  had  the  soul  to  appreciate  it.  Myriad  streams 
of  water  were  coursing  down  the  steep  sides  of  the 
lofty  height,  which  leaped  over  obstructions,  or  were 
scattered  in  flaky  masses. 

In  the  rapture  of  the  hour,  Pelham  quite  forgot 
that  he  was  a  deserter  from  the  ship  ;  and  when  the 
steamer  was  approaching  the  pier  at  Inversnaid,  he 
decided  to  stop  at  this  place,  and  make  a  trip  down 
the  lake  and  back  on  the  following  day.  From  the 
boat  he  obtained  a  view  of  the  little  bay  and  water 
fall,  where  Arklet  Water  discharges  itself  into  the' 
lake,  and  this  pleasant  sight  strengthened  his  deter 
mination. 

"  This  fall  of  water,  that  dotli  make 
.    A  murmur  near  the  silent  lake, 
This  little  bay," 

were  appreciated  by  the  runaway  officer  as  well  as 
by  Wordsworth,  when  he  wrote  the  lines,  at  this 
place,  "  To  a  Highland  Girl." 

The  hotel  was  beautifully  situated,  and  he  found 
he  could  live  there  for  eight  and  sixpence  a  day. 
After  dinner  he  carefully  ciphered  up  his  probable 
expenses.  He  had  twelve  pounds :  he  could  go  from 
Edinburgh  to  London,  third  class,  for  thiity-three 
shillings ;  and  reserving  this  sum,  he  could  afford  to 
spend  ten  shillings  a  day.  He  could  find  a  cheap 
hotel  in  Edinburgh,  where  he  could  subsist  for  seven 
shillings  a  day ;  and  he  could  therefore  ventur  to 
exceed  the  ten  shillings  in  such  an  interesting  locality 
as  Loch  Lomond. 

Pelham  was  satisfied  with  the  result  of  his  calcula- 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    253 

tions,  being  sure  that  he  shoujd  hear  from  his  father, 
and  receive  the  twenty  pounds  for  which  he  had  writ 
ten  while  in  Glasgow. 

The  sun  was  shining  pleasantly  now,  though  no 
reliance  can  be  placed  upon  the  weather  among  the 
mountains  of  Scotland.  Pelham  walked  over  to  the 
waterfall,  crossed  on  the  foot-bridge,  and  gazed  at  the 
cascade  till  he  was  satisfied  for  the  present.  Though 
he  had  not  listened  to  the  lecture  of  Professor  Mapps, 
on  the  Clyde,  he  was  familiar  with  Rob  Roy's  exploits, 
and  had  ascertained  the  locality  of  a  cave  bearing  his 
name,  situated  on  the  lake  about  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  above  the  landing.  At  the  pier  he  obtained  a 
small  row-boat,  and  preferring  to  be  his  own  boatman, 
he  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  guides  and  rowers  who 
beset  him,  and  pushed  off  alone.  The  lake  at  this 
point  is  about  a  mile  in  width,  and  he  pulled  across 
to  obtain  a  nearer  view  of  Wallace  Island  and  Inveru- 
glas  Island,  on  which  is  an  old  stronghold  that  be 
longed  to  the  Macfarlanes.  The  scenery  on  this  side 
of  the  lake  is  grand  ;  several  high  mountains,  includ 
ing  Ben  Voirlick,  which  is  nearly  as  high  as  Ben 
Lomond,  are  within  two  or  three  miles  of  the  shore. 

Determining  the  position  of  Rob  Roy's  cave  by  the 
number  of  boats  in  the  vicinity,  he  pulled  towards  it ; 
but  before  he  had  gone  half  the  distance  across  the 
lake,  the  tourists  around  were  all  hurrying  away.  It 
became  dark,  and  Pelham  realized  that  they  had  been 
driven  away  by  one  of  those  sudden  storms  which 
make  sight-seeing  in  Scotland  so  uncomfortable.  But 
Pelham  was  a  sailor,  and  he  was  bound  for  Rob  Roy's 
cave.  He  did  not  wish  to  be  drenched  in  a  cold  rain, 

22 


254  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

but  the  cavern  would  shelter  him,  and  he  continued 
on  his  course. 

"  Pull  for  the  pier,  mon  !  "  shouted  a  boatman,  row 
ing  with  all  his  might. 

"  Where  is  the  cave?  "  asked  Pelham. 

"  There,  by  the  side  of  the  rock  wi'  twa  e's  in  it ; 
but  dinna  go  there  now.  There'll  be  a  rain,  and  a 
blaw.  Ye  ha'  time  to  reach  the  hotel ;  but  keep  close 
to  the  shore." 

Pelham  was  too  much  of  a  sailor  to  fear  a  "  blaw  " 
on  a  fresh-water  lake,  and  he  pulled  for  the  rock  "  wi' 
twa  e's."  Fastening  the  boat  to  a  stone,  he  climbed 
up  the  steep  rock,  and,  through  a  fissure,  entered  a 
deep  and  extensive  cavern,  just  as  the  rain  began  to 
fall  in  torrents.  The  visitor  explored  the  place,  and 
tried  to  be  sentimental  enough  to  fancy  the  reappear 
ance  of  the  tartaned'Chieftain,  surrounded  by  his  horde 
of  wild  Highlanders,  emerging  from  this  den  to  lay 
waste  and  destroy  the  possessions  of  his  enemies  ;  but 
it  was  a  damp  and  dingy  hole,  and  it  was  impossible 
for  the  imagination  to  be  very  airy  under  such  circum 
stances.  Pelham  went  to  the  mouth  of  the  cave  to 
look  upon  the  lake,  now  enveloped  in  mists  and  rain. 
The  wind  was  blowing  very  fresh,  and  came  at  times 
in  heavy  gusts. 

Thrusting  his  head  out  at  the  narrow  aperture,  he 
glanced  up  the  lake,  and  his  attention  was  immedi 
ately  attracted  by  a  handsome  sail-boat,  which  seemed 
to  be  veering  wildly  about  in  the  fury  of  the  storm. 
The  skipper  had  let  go  the  peak-halyard,  but  the  sheet 
was  fast  at  the  stern.  She  was  coming  down  the  lake, 
and  when  opposite  the  cave,  Pelham  discovered  that 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    255 

the  only  occupant  was  a  small  boy,  not  more  than  ten 
or  eleven  years  old. 

"  Let  go  your  throat-halyard  !  "  shouted  Pelham. 

"  I  can't  —  help  me  !  "  cried  the  boy,  in  terror. 

The  occupant  of  Rob  Roy's  Cave  descended  the 
rock  with  the  intention  of  going  to  the  assistance  of 
the  bewildered  navigator,  when  a  gust  of  wind  more 
fierce  than  any  which  had  yet  come,  struck  the  sail 
in  such  a  position  that  it  received  the  full  force  of  the 
blast.  The  boat  careened,  the  water  poured  in  over  the 
side  ;  then  she  righted  and  swung  round,  which  brought 
the  boom  over  to  the  other  side.  In  swinging  it  struck 
the  boy,  and  knocked  him  overboard. 

Pelham  pushed  off  from  the  shore,  appalled  by  the 
accident  he  had  witnessed.  A  few  strokes  of  the  oars 
brought  him  to  the  scene  of  the  disaster ;  but  the  boy 
was  not  in  sight.  He  had  doubtless  been  stunned  or 
stupefied  by  the  blow  from  the  boom,  and  had  sunk. 
The  lieutenant  gazed  down  into  the  water,  and  discov 
ered  him  on  the  bottom,  apparently  tangled  in  the 
grass  or  weeds  that  grew  there.  His  impulses,  gen 
erally  noble,  prompted  him  to  do  his  duty  ;  and  throw 
ing  off  his  coat  and  shoes,  he  dived  after  the  luckless 
boatman.  The  water  was  not  very  deep,  and  he 
seized  the  boy,  tearing  him  with  some  difficulty  from 
his  hold  on  the  weeds  and  grass.  With  the  little  fel 
low  enclosed  in  one  arm  he  rose  to  the  surface.  The 
wind  had  driven  the  boat  from  the  place,  and  he  could 
only  swim  for  the  land.  He  struggled  hard  with  his 
burden,  and  reached  the  shore,  though,  if  it  had  been 
ten  feet  farther  off,  he  could  not  have  done  so,  for  he 
was  completely  exhausted  by  the  violence  of  his  efforts. 


256  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

But  a  moment  of  rest  from  such  a  desperate  strug 
gle  gave  him  strength  to  attend  to  the  needs  of  the 
poor  boy.  He  turned  him  with  his  face  down,  rolled 
him,  rubbed  him,  and  carried  out,  as  far  as  he  could, 
the  surgeon's  instructions  which  had  been  given  to 
the  whole  ship's  company  for  such  an  emergency  as 
this.  While  he  was  thus  employed,  he  heard  voices 
on  the  lake.  A  boat,  pulled  by  two  men,  with  a  gen 
tleman  seated  in  the  stern  sheets,  was  rapidly  ap 
proaching  the  rocks.  Pelham  did  not  intermit  his 
labor,  and  before  the  approaching  boat  touched  the 
shore,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  some  signs  of 
life  in  his  patient. 

"Merciful  Heaven!  Is  that  Rob?"  exclaimed  the 
gentleman,  leaping  from  his  seat  in  the  stern  of  the 
boat. 

"  I  don't  know  who  it  is,  sir  ;  but  it  has  been  a  nar 
row  chance  for  him,"  replied  Pelham,  speaking  with 
great  difficulty,  so  exhausting  had  been  his  exertions 
for  the  boy. 

"  Is  he  dead?"  gasped  the  gentleman. 

"  No  ;  he's  doing  very  well.  There  !  he  opens  his 
eyes.  He  will  be  all  right  in  half  an  hour." 
•  And  for  half  an  hour  the  gentleman  and  his  two 
men  worked  over  the  young  patient,  guided  by  the 
directions  of  Pelham.  The  sufferer  could  speak  now, 
and  was  in  condition  to  be  conveyed  to  a  better  place 
for  treatment.  The  gentleman,  who  appeared  to  be 
the  father  of  Rob,  was  so  painfully  anxious,  that  he 
hardly  spoke  to  Pelham,  except  in  regard  to  the  boy's 
recovery  ;  but  the  case  was  now  entirely  hopeful. 

"  You  will  come  with  us,  my  friend  —  won't  you  ?  " 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    257 

said  the  gentleman,  as  he  bore  the  boy  in  his  arms  to 
the  boat. 

"  I.  will,  sir,  if  you  desire  it,"  replied  Pelham. 
"  The  sail-boat  has  drifted  ashore,  I  see.  I  will  get 
her  off  and  bring  her  down." 

"  Don't  mind  the  saiUboat ;  it  is  of  no  consequence," 
added  the  father  of  the  boy,  as  he  ordered  his  men  to 
pull  with  all  their  might  for  home. 

Pelham  recovered  his  row-boat,  and  pulled  to  the 
sail-boat.  Finding  there  was  not  much  water  in  her, 
he  hoisted  her  peak,  and  taking  his  own  boat  in  tow, 
stood  down  the  lake.  The  wind  had  abated  consid 
erably,  though  it  was  still  fresh  ;  but  the  boat,  when 
properly  handled,  behaved  very  well.  Again  the  rain 
had  ceased,  and  the  sun  came  out,  and  its  warm  rays 
were  welcome  to  the  boatman,  shivering  with  cold, 
after  the  bath  he  had  taken.  In  a  short  time  he  over 
took  the  row-boat, — just  as  it  was  making  a  landing 
at  the  mouth  of  a  small  creek  above  the  hotel.  See 
ing  the  moorings  of  his  craft,  he  skilfully  ran  them 
down,  and  made  her  fast.  Lowering  the  sail,  he 
jumped  into  the  row-boat,  and  pulled  her  to  the  pief 
just  as  the  gentleman  stepped  on  shore  with  the  boy 
in  his  arms. 

"  Let  me  get  down.  I'm  well  enough  now,  father," 
said  Rob,  struggling  to  release  himself  when  he  saw 
Pelham. 

The  father  complied. 

"  What  was  it  you  said  to  me,  when  you  shouted 
from  Rob  Roy's  Cave?"  demanded  the  little  fellow 
of  his  deliverer,  who,  though  he  recognized  him  ag 

22  * 


358  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

the  person  he  had  seen  on  the  rock,  had  no  idea  of 
what  he  had  done  for  him. 

"  I  told  you  to  let  go  your  throat-halyard,"  replied 
Pelham. 

"  Poor  fellow  !  I  suppose  he  didn't  know  what  you 
meant,"  added  his  father. 

"  I  did  not,  indeed.  I  tried  to  get  the  sail  down, 
but  it  would  not  come  down  for  me,"  replied  Rob, 
racher  languidly,  for  he  had  not  recovered  from  the 
effects  of  the  accident.  "  I  was  so  frightened  I  didn't 
know  what  I  did." 

"  How  came  you  in  the  boat,  Rob?  Who  was  with 
you?"  asked  his  father. 

"  No  one  was  with  me,  father.  I  didn't  mind  what 
you  said,  and  you  must  punish  me  for  it,"  added  the 
lad,  with  childish  simplicity. 

"  Come  to  the  Lodge,  now,  and  have  dry  clothes 
upon  you,"  said  his  father. 

"Isn't  he  coming,  too,  father?"  continued  Rob, 
pointing  to  Pelham. 

"  Yes,  you  will  certainly  come  to  the  Lodge  with 
us." 

"  Thank  you.  I  think  I  will  return  to  the  hotel  in 
the  boat  I  took  from  there,"  replied  Pelham,  who 
could  not  help  thinking  that  the  gentleman  whose 
son  he  had  saved  at  the  peril  of  his  own  life  was 
taking  the  matter  very  coolly,  for  he  had  not  even 
thanked  him  yet. 

"  I  will  send  your  boat  back.  Do  me  the  favor  to 
come  to  the  Lodge  with  me.  It  is  about  our  dinner 
hour,  and  I  should  be  pleased  to  have  you  dine 
with  us." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    259 

"  I  thank  you,  sir ;  but  you  see  I  am  in  no  condition 
to  dine." 

"  Oblige  me  by  coming.  I  have  been  so  distressed 
about  poor  Rob,  I  haven't  had  an  opportunity  to  speak 
a  word  to  you.  You  shall  be  furnished  with  dry  cloth 
ing,  and  Donald  will  return  your  boat  to  the  hotel." 

The  gentleman  was  so  earnest  that  Pelham  was 
induced  to  accept  the  invitation,  especially  as  Rob, 
who  had  taken  his  hand,  would  not  release  him. 

"  May  I  ask  you  for  your  name,  my  young  friend?  " 
said  the  father,  as  they  walked  towards  the  Lodge. 

"  Augustus  Pelham,  sir." 

"  Thank  you  ;  and  I  am  Mr.  Robert  McLaurin, 
well  known  in  this  part  of  Scotland.  Mr.  Pelham, 
I  need  not  attempt  to  express  my  obligations  to  you 
for  the  service  you  have  rendered.  Rob  seems  to  be 
quite  well  now,  and  I  feel  as  though  I  had  been  lifted 
out  of  my  own  grave.  I  hope  I  may  be  able  to  serve 
you  in  some  small  way,  though  it  would  of  course  be 
impossible  for  me  to  do  anything  in  proportion  to  what 
you  have  done  for  me  and  mine  —  God  bless  you  for 
it !  "  And  the  tears  ran  down  the  father's  cheek,  as 
he  thought  of  the  fearful  scene  he  had  witnessed  off 
Rob  Roy's  Cave. 

Pelham  realized  that  Mr.  McLaurin  was  not  so 
insensible  as  he  had  feared  he  was,  and  he  expressed 
his  gratification  that  it  had  been  in  his  power  to  serve 
him. 

"  I  am  very  nervous  now,  and  we  will  say  nothing 
more  of  the  circumstances  at  present,  if  you  please," 
added  the  grateful  father,  as  they  entered  the  Lodge, 
which  was  a  beautiful  country  house. 


2(X>  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

The  party  were  welcomed  by  Mrs.  McLaurin,  who, 
without  knowing  what  had  happened  to  him,  grasped 
the  dripping  Rob  in  her  arms,  and  pressed  him  to  her 
bosom.  A  young  lady  of  sixteen,  very  pretty  and 
very  graceful  in  her  movements,  was  hardly  less  zeal 
ous  in  her  devotion  to  the  boy,  and  Pelham,  before 
he  was  introduced,  understood  that  she  was  Rob's 
sister. 

"  The  poor  boy  has  been  overboard,  and  this  young 
gentleman  pulled  him  out,"  said  Mr.  McLaurin. 

Nothing  more  was  needed  to  insure  Pelham's  hearty 
welcome,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  hearts  of  the  whole 
family,  not  excepting  the  servants,  who  loved  little 
Rob  most  enthusiastically.  Dry  clothing  and  big  fires 
were  immediately  in  demand.  Mr.  McLaurin  was 
not  a  large  man,  and  a  suit  of  his  .clothes  was  fur 
nished  to  the  lieutenant,  while  his  own  could  be  dried. 
It  was  not  a  very  good  fit,  and  the  gallant  young  gen 
tleman,  who  had  already  cast  "  sheep's  eyes"  at  Miss 
Maggie  McLaurin,  did  not  deem  himself  in  presenta 
ble  shape  for  such  company.  But  there  was  no  alter 
native,  and  he  soon  found  that  his  new-made  friends 
did  not  look  at  his  dress,  only  at  his  face. 

Though  Pelham  had  dined  at  the  Inversnaid  Hotel, 
his  exertions  had  sharpened  his  appetite,  so  that  at 
six  o'clock  he  was  in  condition  to  take  his  place  at  the 
hospitable  board  of  his  host.  The  roast  lamb  and  the 
boiled  mutton  were  superior,  and  the  guest  did  ample 
justice  to  them,  as  well  as  to  the  other  viands. 

Thus  far,  nothing  had  been  said  about  the  exciting 
event  of  the  day,  Mr.  McLaurin  begging  that  it  might 
not  be  discussed  until  after  dinner ;  but  when  he  had 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    261 

taken  his  glass  of  wine,  in  which  Pelham  did  not 
scruple  to  join  him,  his  nerves  were  in  condition  to 
permit  a  reference  to  it. 

"  Now,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Pelham,  we  will  discuss 
poor  Rob's  affair  ;  for  even  yet  I  do  not  fully  compre 
hend  the  extent  of  my  indebtedness  to  you,"  the  host 
began.  "  My  nerves  are  in  bad  condition,  and  they 
have  been  terribly  shaken  to-day." 

"I  do  not  desire  to  talk  about  the  matter,  sir," 
said  Pelham.  "  I  will  return  to  the  hotel,  and  if  you 
please  I  will  call  to-morrow." 

"  O,  no  !  I  am  anxious  to  know  how  it  all  was ; 
but  I  have  feared  to  say  anything  about  it.  We  will 
let  Rob  tell  his  story  first." 

Thus  called  up,  Rob  narrated  the  incidents  of  his 
voyage.  He  had  walked  down  to  the  lake,  and  find 
ing  the  sail-boat  at  the  landing-place,  he  had  got 
into  it,  —  not  with  the  intention  of  sailing,  but  only 
to  sit  there.  He  had  often  sailed  with  his  father  and 
the  boatman,  and  had  steered  the  boat  under  the  di 
rection  of  the  skipper.  The  sail  was  hoisted,  and  he 
was  at  last  tempted  —  though  he  had  been  told  never 
to  get  into  the  boat  when  alone  —  to  push  off  from 
the  shore.  The  wind  was  light,  and,  coming  from  the 
southward,  had  carried  him  up  the  lake.  He  could 
steer  pretty  well  as  long  as  there  were  no  difficulties. 
The  shower  and  squalls  came  from  the  northward,  and 
had  driven  him  back  down  the  lake. 

"  I  unfastened  the  rope  and  tried  to  get  the  sail 
down  ;  but  I  was  frightened  when  the  wind  blew  so 
hard,  and  didn't  know  what  to  do,"  continued  Rob. 
"  When  I  was  going  by  Rob  Roy's  Cave,  Mr.  Pelharn 


262  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

shouted  something  I  couldn't  understand.  Then  the 
wind  struck  the  sail  harder  than  ever,  and  something 
struck  me  in  the  head,  and  I'm  sure  I  don't  remember 
anything  more  till  I  found  Mr.  Pelham  rubbing  my 
head,  on  the  rocks  by. the  cave." 

"  The  boat  came  about,  and  it  was  the  boom  that 
hit  you  in  the  head,  Rob,"  added  Pelham. 

"  Go  on,  Mr.  Pelham  ;  your  story  comes  next,"  said 
Mr.  McLaurin,  nervously. 

"  I  saw  Rob  go  overboard,  and  I  pushed  off  my 
boat ;  but  when  I  reached  the  spot,  I  didn't  see  any 
thing  of  him,"  continued  Pelham.  "  I  looked  down 
in  the  clear  water,  and  there  I  saw  him  at  the  bottom 
among  the  weeds.  I  dived  after  him  ;  but  he  was 
holding  on  to  the  weeds  so  hard  that  it  was  all  I  could 
do  to  pull  him  away  from  them." 

"  Merciful  Heaven  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  McLaurin, 
unable  to  control  his  feelings,  while  Rob's  mother 
clasped  him  to  her  heart  and  wept  like  a  child. 

"  I  came  to  the  top  of  the  water  with  him,  but  the 
wind  had  driven  both  boats  out  of  my  reach,  and  I 
had  to  swim  for  the  shore,"  continued  Pelham. 
"  Though  the  distance  was  not  more  than  twenty 
yards,  it  was  the  hardest  swim  I  ever  had  in  my  life." 

"  Bearing  poor  Rob  in  your  arms,"  gasped  the 
boy's  mother,  as  she  embraced  him  again. 

"  I  had  one  arm  around  him,  and  swam  with  the 
other ;  but  I  got  ashore  with  him  at  last.  I  thought 
then  the  last  drop  of  breath  had  gone  out  of  my  body. 
I  breathed  a  moment,  and  then  went  to  work  upon 
the  boy." 

"  I  know  the  rest,  my  fine  fellow ;  and  if  I  cannot 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    263 

reward  you,  the  good  God  in  heaven  will,"  exclaimed 
the  fond  father,  fervently.  "  My  story  is  a  very  short 
one.  I  missed  Rob  when  the  storm  came  up.  He 
wasn't  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity.  I  was  told  the 
boat  was  gone,  and  I  feared  he  had  taken  it.  I  called 
two  men  ;  they  pulled  till  we  came  to  the  sail-boat, 
half  full  of  water.  O,  you  don't  know  what  agony 
I  suffered  then !  but  I  bade  the  men  pull  with  all  their 
might,  and  we  came  to  the  cave,  where  I  saw  you  at 
work  over  poor  Rob.  I  thought  he  was  dead ;  and 
you  can't  tell  what  I  suffered.  He's  my  only  boy,  and 
my  youngest  born.  Thank  God,  he  is  safe  now  !  We 
shall  always  think  you  are  a  greater  man  than  Bruce 
or  Wallace.  Clinging  to  the  weeds  at  the  bottom  was 
he !  O,  merciful  Heaven !  But  for  you,  we  should 
never  have  seen  him  again.  Rob,  why  don't  you  get 
down  on  your  knees  to  your  preserver  !  " 

"  Don't  do  it,  Rob,"  laughed  Pelham. 

"  I'm  almost  crazy,  my  noble  fellow,  and  you  must 
pardon  me  if  I'm  wild.  I  can't  help  it ; "  and  Mr. 
McLaurin  grasped  the  two  hands  of  Pelham,  and 
wept,  and  behaved  in  so  extravagant  a  manner  that 
it  was  quite  embarrassing  to  the  lieutenant. 

The  mother  and  the  sister  of  "  poor  Rob  "  were 
hardly  less  profuse  in  their  demonstrations ;  and  as  he 
was  a  mere  youth,  both  of  them  kissed  him  in  the 
exuberance  of  their  gratitude.  After  a  while  they 
were  more  reasonable  ;  but  Bruce,  Wallace,  and  the 
heroes  of  Scotland,  "  were  nowhere,"  compared  with 
the  young  stranger,  in  the  estimation  of  the  family. 

"  My  young  friend,  you  haven't  told  us  who  or  what 
you  are,"  said  Mr.  McLaurin.  "  Very  likely  you  ara 
a  Southron." 


264  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

"  No,  sir ;  I'm  an  American,"  replied  Pelham,  now 
for  the  first  time  feeling  the  awkwardness  of  his  posi 
tion. 

The  thought  of  lying  to  this  host  was  intolerable  to 
Pelham,  whose  sensibilities  had  been  quickened  by  the 
demonstrations  of  gratitude  made  by  his  new  friends. 
It  would  be  mortifying  to  acknowledge  that  he  was 
not  the  noble-minded  young  man  he  was  supposed  to 
be ;  that  he  was  a  deserter  and  a  runaway  from  his 
ship. 

"  An  American !  I  am  glad  to  know  that,  and  I 
shall  love  you  all  the  more  for  it,"  replied  the  host. 
"  You  are  a  tourist,  then?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  you  seem  to  be  a  sailor." 

"  I  am,  sir.  I  belong  to  the  Academy  Ship  '  Young 
America.'  I  came  up  here  for  a  run  through  Scot 
land.  I  am  delighted  with  this  beautiful  country." 

"  And  I  hope  you  have  a  long  furlough  from  your 
ship.  I  read  about  her  in  a  Dublin  paper.  It's  a  fine 
institution.  She's  at  Belfast,  I  think." 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  suppose  she  will  be  in  the  Clyde 
soon." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it ;  and  for  your  sake,  I  shall 
invite  the  whole  ship's  company  to  the  Lodge." 

Pelham  thought  that  Mr.  Lowington  would  not  be 
willing  to  accept  any  hospitalities  for  his  sake  ;  but  at 
present  he  was  not  prepared  to  tell  his  considerate 
host  the  whole  truth.  He  felt  mean  and  little,  more 
so  than  he  had  ever  felt  before  in  his  life.  He  only 
needed  a  clean  conscience  to  make  him  the  happiest 
young  man  in  the  world,  and  he  envied  Paul  Kendall 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    265 

and  others  who  had  been  noble  and  manly  without 
swerving  from  the  path  of  rectitude. 

"  I  have  taken  a  room  at  the  hotel,  sir ;  and  I  think 
I  will  return  there  now,"  said  he  ;  and  he  wished  to  be 
alone,  that  he  might  consider  his  position. 

"  Not  while  I  have  a  guest-chamber  in  my  house, 
Mr.  Pelham  —  if  you  will  permit  me,"  interposed  Mr. 
McLaurin.  "  I  will  send  Donald  down  for  your  lug 
gage." 

"  We  sailors  don't  carry  much  luggage,  sir,"  replied 
Pelham.  "  I  have  none  at  all.  I  am  not  prepared, 
sir,  to  mingle  with  good  society." 

"  Don't  mind  the  preparation.  A  clear  head  and  a 
noble  heart  are  the  best  preparation  for  any  society. 
Let  my  house  be  your  home.  Myself,  my  family,  my 
servants,  my  horses,  my  boats,  are  all  at  your  ser 
vice." 

The  runaway  officer  would  gladly  have  escaped 
this  avalanche  of  kindness  ;  but  Mr.  McLaurin  and  his 
family  were  in  earnest,  and  were  so  hurt  when  he 
gently  insisted  upon  going  back  to  the  hotel,  that  he 
could  not  help  yielding.  The  guest-chamber  was 
opened  for  his  use. 

In  the  solitude  of  his  room,  after  he  had  severely 
reproached  himself  for  his  unworthiness,  he  decided 
to  tell  his  kind  host  the  whole  truth,  and  to  be  gov 
erned  by  his  advice  ;  but  day  after  day  passed  by, 
and  he  had  not  the  courage  to  do  it.  He  rode  with 
Maggie,  he  sailed  all  over  the  lake  with  Rob,  and  was 
not  only  feted,  but  lionized,  by  the  family  and  their 
friends  —  all  of  which  only  increased  his  sense  of  un 
worthiness.  Several  times  he  proposed  to  continue 
23 


Z66  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

his  journey  to  the  Trosachs  and  Stirling,  but  his 
obliged  friends  always  contrived  a  way  to  defeat  him. 
Finally,  when  he  was  more  resolute,  —  after  hearing 
that  the  ship  was  at  Greenock,  —  the  whole  family 
spent  a  week  with  him  in  the  mountains  and  the  city, 
and  he  could  offer  no  good  excuse  for  not  returning  to 
Inversnaid  with  them. 

And  still,  though  he"  intended  each  day  to  do  it,  he 
neglected  to  confess  his  misconduct  to  his  kind  friend, 

o  * 

and  ask  his  advice. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    267 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

LOCH   LOMOND. 

LOCH  LOMOND,  the  pride  of  the  Scottish 
lakes,  is  the  largest  sheet  of  fresh  water  in  Great 
Britain.  It  is  about  twenty-three  miles  in  length,  the 
lower  part  being  about  five  miles  wide,  and  dimin 
ishing  in  breadth  till  it  has  the  appearance,  in  the 
northern  half,  of  a  river  from  half  a  mile  to  a  mile 
in  width.  But  the  chief  interest  of  the  lake  is  in  its 
beautiful  scenery.  While  the  country  which  borders 
its  lower  banks  is  moderately  uneven,  that  on  its  north 
ern  shores  is  rough  and  mountainous.  The  lake  is 
studded  with  islands,  about  thirty  in  number,  which 
add  a  rare  charm  to  the  prospect  as  seen  from  the 
deck  of  the  steamer. 

"Yon  emerald  isles,  how  calm  they  sleep 
On  the  blue  bosom  of  the  deep  ! 
How  bright  they  throw,  with  waking  eye, 
Their  love-charms  on  the  passers-by!  " 

On  several  of  these  islands  are  the  ruins  of  ancient 
castles  and  fortresses,  and  every  foot  of  ground  in  the 
vicinity  has  its  historic  interest. 

In  the  lower  part  Loch  Lomond  is  not  more  than 
sixty  feet  deep,  while  in  the  upper  section  it  varies  in 
Uie  middle  from  three  hundred  to  six  hundred  feet. 


268  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

It  is  navigable  for  steamers  in  its  entire  length  and 
breadth,  and  forms  an  important  channel  of  commu 
nication  between  Glasgow  and  the  Highlands.  In  the 
vicinity  of  the  lake  may  be  found  some  of  the  most 
picturesque  scenery  in  Scotland,  and  excursion  tickets 
are  issued  by  the  railway  companies  which  include  a 
round  trip  from  Glasgow  or  Edinburgh  through  this 
beautiful  section.  Mr.  Lowington  had  provided  tick 
ets  of  this  description  for  the  entire  ship's  company. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  Balloch  Pier,  the  stu 
dents  tumbled  out  of  the  carriages,  eager  to  obtain 
their  first  view  of  the  lake.  In  their  enthusiasm  they 
exceeded  the  bounds  of  good  order,  and  the  boat 
swain's  whistle  piped  them  back  to  the  pier,  for  they 
were  crowding  ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  upsetting 
little  children,  in  their  mad  flight. 

Usually  the  boys  were  required  to  march  in  column, 
but  the  principal  was  not  disposed  to  subject  them  to 
any  unnecessary  restraint.  He  was  in  favor  of  mili 
tary  order,  of  which  he  had  often  seen  the  need  since 
the  arrival  of  the  ship,  and  he  hoped  at  no  distant 
day  to  have  his  arrangements  completed  so  that  mar 
tial  movements  would  become  a  pastime  to  the  stu 
dents.  For  more  than  a  year,  Professor  Badois,  who 
Was  an  accomplished  musician,  had  been  training 
twenty  of  the  boys  to  play  on  the  various  instruments 
necessary  to  constitute  a  band.  They  had  made  con 
siderable  progress  ;  but  the  professor  would  not  yet 
permit  them  to  play  in  public. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  you  will  remember  who  and 
what  you  arc,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  sternly,  as  the 
line  was  formed  on  the  pier. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IX   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    26$ 

"  Come  you  up  here,  Paul  Kendall  ! "  shouted  Ar 
thur  McLeish,  who  had  perched  himself  on  the  hur 
ricane  deck  with  his  legs  hanging  over  the  side. 

The  new  scholar  had  not  heeded  the  pipe  of  the 
boatswain,  and  was  making  himself  as  comfortable  as 
possible,  without  regard  to  discipline. 

"  Air.  Kendall,  you  will  direct  McLeish  to  take  his 
place  in  the  line,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  as  the  boys 
smiled  at  the  coolness  of  Arthur. 

Paul  touched  his  cap,  and  obeyed  the  order ;  but 
Arthur  declined  to  heed  the  summons. 

"  I've  got  a  nice  place  here  to  show  you  the  scenery, 
and  I'm  not  going  down  again  for  nothing." 

The  second  lieutenant  tried  to  persuade  him  ;  but 
Arthur  was  as  contrary  as  a  mule,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  report  his  refusal  to  the  principal. 

"  Mr.  Fluxion,  may  I  trouble  you  to  bring  that  boy 
into  the  line  ?  "  added  Mr.  Lowington,  quietly. 

The  professor  leaped  up  to  the  hurricane  deck,  and 
politely  invited  Arthur  to  take  his  place.  He  was 
surprised  to  receive  a  flat  refusal. 

"  What's  the  use  of  my  going  down  when  you 
are  all  coming  up  here?"  demanded  the  refractory 
pupil. 

"  We  don't  argue  the  matter,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  I  don't  think  the  question  admits  of  any  argu 
ment,"  answered  McLeish,  coolly. 

"  Neither  do  I,"  added  Mr.  Fluxion,  as  he  took  the 
rebel  by  the  collar,  and  dragged  him  from  his  posi 
tion. 

"Hoot,  man!  What  are  you  doing?"  sputtered 
Arthur. 

23* 


270  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  No  argument,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion,  as  he  led  th« 
new  scholar  down  the  steps,  and  then  to  the  pier,  to 
the  great  amusement  of  the  passengers  and  of  the 
ship's  company. 

"  You  will  obey  when  you  are  spoken  to,"  said  Mr. 
Lowington,  when  the  rebel  was  put  into  the  line. 

"  I  will  report  to  my  father  how  you  treat  me," 
growled  Arthur. 

"  Silence  ;  not  a  word !  "  added  the  principal,  in 
such  a  tone  that  the  rebel  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to 
disobey.  "  You  have  a  great  deal  to  learn  yet." 

Mr.  Lowington  then  informed  the  boys  that  they 
were  not  sheep,  but  young  gentlemen  ;  and  that  they 
must  go  on  board  the  steamer  like  gentlemen,  and  not 
like  sheep.  They  went  on  the  deck  in  good  order 
this  time,  and  the  passengers,  who  had  been  annoyed 
by  their  rudeness  before,  were  so  far  pacified  by  the 
change  in  their  manner,  that  they  smiled  pleasantly 
upon  them.  The  students  were  dismissed  from  the 
line  on  the  deck,  after  being  admonished  that  crowd 
ing  and  rudeness  were  not  to  be  tolerated,  and  per 
mitted  to  find  such  places  as  they  chose  to  observe  the 
scenery. 

"  There'll  be  a  muckle  row  here,  soon,"  said  the 
Scotch  boy,  as  he  walked  up  to  Paul  on  the  deck,  as 
the  steamer  was  starting. 

"  Don't  be  foolish,  McLeish,"  replied  the  lieutenant, 
rather  coldly.  "  You  must  obey  orders  always." 

"  What  difference  could  it  make  about  my  going 
down  upon  that  pier?"  snarled  Arthur. 

"  When  the  boatswain  pipes  all  hands,  you  must 
mind  the  call." 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    371 

"  A  fig  for  the  boatswain  and  his  pipe !  Now, 
Paul  —  " 

"  You  must  not  call  me  Paul." 

"  What  shall  I  call  you?  "  sneered  the  new  scholar. 

"  Mr.  Kendall." 

"  And  will  you  call  me  Mr.  McLeish?  " 

"  No ;  but  when  you  are  an  officer  and  I  am  a  sea 
man,  I  shall  call  you  Mr.  McLeish,  and  you  will  call 
me  Kendall." 

"  That  will  never  be.  When  I  went  to  school  last, 
I  taught  the  master  to  respect  me,  and  I'll  do  the  same 
here." 

"  Why  did  you  leave  that  school?  "  asked  Paul,  sus 
piciously. 

"  There  couldn't  be  two  masters,  and  the  governors 
turned  me  out,"  laughed  Arthur.  "  I'll  have  my  re 
venge  on  them  for  the  way  they  treated  me  here." 

u  I  shall  be  obliged  to  report  any  such  language  as 
that,  if  you  use  it  to  me." 

"  Report  it !  I  was  mistaken  in  you,"  said  Mc 
Leish,  angrily,  as  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  left  the 
lieutenant. 

"  Bully  for  you,  McLeish  !  "  exclaimed  a  student 
by  the  name  of  Templeton,  who  was  one  of  "  our  fel 
lows."  "  Fluxion  brought  you  up  all  standing,  but 
you  have  the  pluck." 

"  You  talk  like  a  man.  That  snivelling  Paul  Ken 
dall  threatened  to  report  what  I  said  to  the  principal," 
said  Arthur,  who  was  fast  proving  himself  to  be  a 
turbulent  fellow ;  and  the  reason  why  his  father  had 
been  so  anxious  to  have  him  admitted  to  the  ship  as  a 
pupil  was  by  this  time  apparent  to  all. 


272  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  A  chap  like  you  must  give  the  flunkies  a  -wide 
berth,"  added  Templeton. 

"  I'll  no  go  in  the  same  berth  with  them  at  all." 

"  That's  right." 

"  The  principal  and  that  professor  insulted  me.  I 
never  had  a  man  lay  his  hand  on  me  before  ;  and  I'll 
be  revenged  upon  them  for  it  if  it  costs  me  my  life. 
I've  the  blood  of  the  MacGregors  in  my  veins,  and 
I'll  no  submit  to  an  insult  from  any  man.  They  may 
expal  me  as  soon  as  they  just  like." 

"  You  have  the  real  grit,"  replied  Templeton  ;  "  but 
don't  get  yourself  into  trouble  for  nothing." 

"  It'll  no  be  for  nothing." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  I  don't  just  know  yet ;  but  I'll  do  something  that 
will  make  the  nobs  respact  me,"  added  McLeish, 
shaking  his  head.  "  You'll  halp  me  —  won't  you?  " 

"  That  depends  on  what  you  intend  to  do.  We 
don't  put  our  fingers  into  the  fire  for  the  mere  sake  of 
burning  them,"  replied  the  prudent  Templeton.  "  We 
came  pretty  near  taking  the  ship,  and  sailing  her  on 
our  own  account,  on  the  voyage  over  We  should 
have  done  it,  if  our  leaders  hadn't  quarrelled  among 
themselves." 

Perhaps  Templeton  believed  they  came  "  pretty 
near  "  doing  all  this  ;  and  as  McLeish  wanted  to  know 
about  it,  he  told  the  whole  story  of  the  "  Chain  League," 
occasionally  pausing  to  ask  a  question  about  the  scenery 
or  the  lake,  which  his  Scotch  auditor,  who  was  famil 
iar  with  the  locality,  answered,  giving  full  particulars 
without  losing  the  run  of  his  companion's  story. 

"  Yonder  is  Inch  Murrin,"  said  he,  in  reply  to  Tem- 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    273 

pleton's  question,  as  he  pointed  to  a  long,  narrow  island 
on  the  port  hand  of  the  steamer.  "  It  is  a  deer-park 
now,  belonging  to  his  grace  the  Duke  of  Montrose. 
It  was  once  the  residence  of  the  Earls  of  Lennox,  and 
at  the  end  there  is  the  ruin  of  a  part  of  the  castle. 
You  elected  the  captain  of  the  ship,  you  said?  " 

"  Yes  ;  we  elected  Shuffles  —  that  fellow  sitting  on 
the  rail  there  ;  he  looks  as  meek  as  Moses  now,  and 
the  fun  has  all  gone  out  of  him.  It  lay  between  him 
and  Pelham,  the  lieutenant  that  ran  away.  There  was 
some  trick  about  it,"  continued  Templeton  ;  and  he 
proceeded  with  the  narrative  of  the  intended  mutiny, 
in  which  McLeish  was  intensely  interested. 

"What's  this  land  on  the  port  bow?"  asked  the 
speaker,  suspending  his  story,  as  the  steamer  ap 
proached  a  group  of  islands. 

"  On  the  what?" 

"  On  the  port  bow." 

"  Dinna  talk  that  gibberish  to  me,"  said  McLeish 
impatiently  ;  and  when  he  was  vexed,  he  generally 
introduced  a  Scotch  word  or  two,  or  spoke  witn  a. 
broad  Scotch  accent.     "  I  don't  understand  it." 

"  It's  time  you  did,  if  you  mean  to  be  a  sailot. 
The  port  side  is  on  the  left  —  over  here,"  added  Tem 
pleton,  pointing  to  an  island. 

"  That's  Inch  Cailliach,  or  The  Island  of  Women, 
because  there  used  to  be  a  nunnery  there." 

Templeton  continued  the  recital  of  the  mutiny 
which  did  not  take  place,  after  the  steamer  had  touched 
at  Balmaha  Pier,  and  while  she  was  crossing  the  lake 
to  Luss. 

"  Our  leaders  quarrelled,  and  that  spoiled  the  whole 


274  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

thing,"  he  added,  in  conclusion.  "  Either  Pelham  of 
Shuffles  was  competent  to  handle  the  ship." 

"  Can't  we  try  it  over  again?"  asked  MeLeish,  ner 
vously,  for  the  daring  scheme  was  quite  to  his  taste. 

"  Perhaps  we  might ;  but  Pelham  has  run  away,  and 
Shuffles  has  joined  the  "  chaplain's  lambs,"  replied 
Templeton. 

"And  you  have  no  leader?"  added  the  Scotch 
boy. 

"  We  have  twenty  of  them  ;  but  the  thing  is  to  get 
the  right  one." 

"  I  will  be  the  leader,  for  I  would  like  to  run  a  rig 
with  the  men  who  insulted  me." 

"  You  !  "  laughed  Templeton. 

"  I  am  descended  from  the  MacGregors,  and  I  have 
the  blood  in  me  for  anything." 

"  You  would  make  a  pretty  captain,  when  you  don't 
know  port  from  starboard.  Confound  your  descent ! 
We  don't  care  a  fig  for  that." 

"  I'll  show  the  fellows  what  I  am  before  we  get 
back  to  the  ship ;  and  my  word  for  it,  the  nobs  will 
respact  and  fear  me,  and  you  Yankees  will  learn  whai 
a  Scot  can  do." 

*'  See  here,  Sawney  —  " 

"  Don't  you  call  me  Sawney,"  interposed  MeLeish. 

"  Didn't  you  call  me  a  Yankee  just  now?  "  retorted 
Templeton. 

"  I'm  a  MacGregor." 

"  I  don't  care  what  you  are  !  If  you  think  you  are 
a  bigger  man  than  any  of  us,  you  will  find  yourself 
mistaken:" 

"  I'll  teach  you  what  a  MacGregor  is  made  of." 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    275 

"  And  I'll  teach  you  what  an  American  is  made  of." 

There  was  a  very  offensive  assumption  in  the  ton*> 
and  manner  of  McLeish,  which  Templeton  could  not 
endure,  and  being  a  fighting  character,  he  was  quite 
ready  to  rebuke  the  arrogance  of  his  companion  at 
the  first  favoi'able  opportunity.  It  was  not  likely  that 
a  mutiny  would  be  undertaken  at  once,  and  not  until 
it  had  been  determined  which  was  "  the  better  man." 
This  cross-fire  of  sharp  words  was  continued  until  the 
steamer  touched  at  Rowardennan  Pier.  At  this  point 
the  boatswain's  whistle  sounded  on  the  hurricane  deck, 
and  all  the  ship's  company  hastened  to  obey  the  sum 
mons,  anxious  to  learn  the  next  step  in  the  pro 
gramme. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Lowington,  "  it  was 
my  intention  to  proceed  immediately  to  Loch  Katrine, 
and  spend  a  day  there  ;  but  this  is  a  remarkably  clear 
day,  such  as  we  might  not  have  again  for  a  fortnight, 
and  I  have  changed  my  plans.  I  have  decided  to  as 
cend  Ben  Lomond,  and  spend  the  night  at  Inversnaid." 

Most  of  the  boys  applauded  ;  for  the  ascent  of  a 
mountain  so  celebrated  as  the  one  before  them  would 
be  a  rare  treat. 

"  This  change  will  subject  you  to  much  fatigue  and 
discomfort,  for  we  must  take  our  chances  for  accom 
modations  at  Inversnaid.  You  will  have  to  sleep  as 
you  can  to-night." 

"  The  soft  side  of  a  pine  board  is  good  enough," 
added  one  of  the  boys. 

"  Form  the  line,"  said  Captain  Gordon  ;  and  the 
students,  each  of  whom  was  provided  with  a  blanket 
strapped  to  his  little  bag,  formed  in  procession. 


276  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Lead  on,"  added  Mr.  Lowington.  "  The  steamer 
Btops  but  a  moment." 

Captain  Gordon  led  the  way  down  the  steps,  and 
over  the  plank,  to  the  shore. 

"  Pier  dues,  if  you  please,"  said  a  man  with  a  bag 
slung  from  his  shoulder,  as  he  placed  himself  in  front 
of  the  captain. 

"  I  will  attend  to  that,"  interposed  the  principal, 
taking  the  porter  aside  to  pay  for  the  whole  party. 

"What  does  that  mean?"  asked  Paul  Kendall  of 
the  doctor. 

"  Every  person  who  lands  at  any  of  the  piers  on  the 
lake  must  pay  a  penny  for  pier  dues.  It  used  to  be 
two  pence,"  laughed  the  doctor.  . 

"  Good  !  They  have  become  half  civilized  in  this 
respect.  I  shouldn't  think  the  people  would  submit 
to  these  small-potato  annoyances,"  added  Paul. 

"  Of  course  the  people  here  must  get  as  much  as 
they  can  out  of  tourists  who  travel  this  way." 

It  was  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  when  the 
ship's  company  landed  ;  and  after  Mr.  Lowington  had 
made  arrangements  for  dinner  at  the  hotel,  on  the 
return  of  the  party,  the  ascent  of  the  mountain  was 
commenced.  It  was  four  miles  by  the  path  to  the 
summit ;  but  the  boys  had,  in  a  measure,  become  fa 
miliar  with  the  feeling  of  the  ground  under  their  feet, 
and  reached  the  top  without  much  fatigue,  though 
Mr.  Lowington  was  careful  to  make  frequent  halts  to 
rest  them. 

The  view  from  the  summit  was  grand,  even  to  sub 
limity.  The  country  beneath  them  was  spread  out  in 
an  immense  panorama,  as  lovely  as  it  was  extensive. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    377 

At  the  north  were  the  Grampian  Mountains,  extend 
ing  peak  on  peak  from  east  to  west.  The  hills  of 
Argyleshire  looked  like  mounds  in  the  distance.  The 
students  followed  with  the  eye  the  windings  of  the 
Forth,  and  measured  the  broad  expanses  of  the  Firth 
of  Clyde,  while  to  the  eastward  could  be  distinctly 
seen  the  Castles  of  Stirling  and  Edinburgh. 

A  couple  of  hours  was  spent  on  the  mountain,  and 
a  lunch,  brought  up  by  the  hotel  porters,  was  served 
out  to  the  party,  so  that  all  were  in  excellent  condition 
for  the  down-hill  tramp.  While  the  company  were 
eating,  a  Scottish  piper  made  his  appearance,  and 
regaled  them  with  a  variety  of  native  melodies.  The 
boys  were  especially  delighted  with  one  inspiring  air, 
and  when  they  were  informed  that  its  name  was  "  Ben 
Lomond,"  they  called  for  several  repetitions.  A  bag 
pipe,  to  any  other  person  than  a  Scotchman,  is  not  a 
remarkably  sweet-sounding  instrument ;  but  played  by 
a  Highlander  on  the  summit  of  Ben  Lomond,  and  dis 
coursing  the  melodies  of  Scotland,  it  becomes  a  min 
strel's  lyre  of  wondrous  power  and  sweetness. 

It  was  easier  to  go  down  the  mountain  side  than  to 
go  up  ;  and  the  excursion  was  finished  without  acci 
dent  or  incident,  though  Arthur  McLeish  rendered 
himself  rather  offensive  by  a  ridiculous  assumption 
of  superiority.  Happening  to  meet  Templeton  in  a 
by-path,  out  of  sight  of  any  of  the  faculty,  he  insisted 
upon  settling  the  "little  difference"  they  had  Lad  in 
the  forenoon  ;  but  Templeton,  though  willing  enough, 
was  too  prudent  to  risk  discovery.  His  refusal  was 
misconstrued  by  McLeish  into  cowardice,  and  he 
became  more  overbearing  than  before.  The  young 
24 


278  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

bully  accidentally  dropped  his  cap  over  a  crag  where 
he  was  seated,  rallying  Templeton  for  his  refusal  to 
fight. 

"  Go  you  down  and  bring  up  my  cap,"  said  he. 

"  Go  yourself,"  replied  Templeton,  sharply. 

"  If  you  won't  fight  me,  you  shall  bring  my  cap." 

"  When  I  do,  you  tell  me  of  it,"  answered  Tem 
pleton,  getting  up  and  walking  off. 

"  The  next  time  we  meet  alone,  I  shall  whip  you," 
called  McLeish. 

"  When  you  do  it,  I  shall  be  there." 

When  the  boatswain's  whistle  sounded  for  the  de 
scent,  McLeish  appeared  with  his  cap  on  his  head  ; 
but  it  was  plain  enough  to  a  few  of  "  our  fellows  " 
who  had  witnessed  the  scene,  that  a  fight  was  not  far 
distant.  At  four  o'clock  the  party  dined  at  the  hotel, 
but  it  was  six  before  they  reembarked  on  the  steamer. 

Three  miles  above  Rowardennan,  the  boat  ran  in 
near  the  shore,  to  enable  the  tourists  on  board  to  see 
an  arched  cavern,  which  is  called  Rob  Roy's  Prison. 

"Was  Rob  Roy  imprisoned  there?"  asked  Paul 
Kendall  of  Mr.  Mapps.  who  was  talking  with  Dr. 
Winstock. 

"  No  ;  I  suppose  there  is  some  tradition  of  his  keep 
ing  his  prisoners  there,"  replied  the  professor.  "  I 
know  of  nothing  authentic  in  regard  to  this  cavern, 
or  of  what  is  called  Rob  Roy's  Cave,  a  mile  above 
Inversnaid.  The  chieftain  was  outlawed  for  his  crimes, 
and  he  revenged  himself  by  levying  black  mail  upon 
bis  enemies,  the  principal  of  whom  was  the  Duke  of 
Montrose.  On  one  occasion,  as  related  in  the  intro 
duction  to  Scott's  Rob  Roy,  the  tenants  of  his  graco 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    2j() 

were  paying  their  rents  to  the  steward,  when  the  out 
law,  at  the  head  of  an  armed  party,  entered  the  room, 
and  seized  about  three  hundred  pounds  in  cash.  Rob 
Roy  seated  himself  at  the  table,  coolly  examined  the 
accounts  of  the  tenants,  and  gave  them  receipts  in  the 
duke's  name,  saying  that  he  would  settle  with  his 
grace.  He  then  compelled  the  steward  to  go  with 
him,  and  kept  him  in  custody  for  five  or  six  days  on 
an  island  in  Loch  Katrine^  which,  Sir  Walter  says, 
« is  still  called  Rob  Roy's  Prison.' " 

"  Then  this  cave  is  a  humbug,"  added  Paul. 

"  I  don't  know ;  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any 
thing  in  regard  to  it.  It  is  possible  that  the  outlaw 
used  it  as  a  prison  in  levying  black  mail." 

In  about  forty  minutes  from  Rowardennan,  includ 
ing  a  short  stay  at  Tarbet,  the  steamer  arrived  at  In- 
versnaid.  The  boys  seemed  to  have  a  passion  for 
caverns,  and  when  it  was  known  that  Rob  Roy's  Cave 
was  only  a  mile  distant,  they  petitioned  the  principal 
for  permission  to  visit  it.  Mr.  Lowington  consented, 
though  he  thought  the  boys  were  tired  enough  for  one 
day ;  but  word  was  given  out  that  those  who  did  not 
wish  to  go  might  remain  at  the  hotel.  A  cave,  how 
ever,  was  irresistible,  or,  at  least,  those  who  were  too 
much  fatigued  to  walk  a  couple  of  miles  were  ashamed 
to  own  it.  Only  one  decided  not  to  visit  the  cave,  and 
that  one  was  McLeish,  who  said  he  had  been  there 
a  dozen  times,  and  did  not  care  to  go  again. 

As  soon  as  the  ship's  company  had  departed,  Mc 
Leish  went  down  to  the  landing,  and  engaged  a  small 
row-boat,  in  which  he  pulled  up  to  the  cave,  reaching 
his  destination  just  as  the  party  had  completed  their 


280  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

exploration  of  the  rocks.  By  this  time  the  boys  were 
pretty  well  fagged  out,  and  the  mile  to  the  hotel  seemed 
longer  than  the  ascent  of  Ben  Lomond  in  the  forenoon  ; 
and  when  the  order  was  given  to  return,  they  promptly 
obeyed.  When  McLeish,  who  was  not  a  skilful  oars 
man,  arrived,  they  were  all  out  of  sight  in  the  bushes 
and  trees  above  the  cliff. 

McLeish  did  not  care  to  be  seen  by  any  one,  for  he 
had  been  ordered  to  stay  at  the  hotel  till  the  party 
returned.  He  had  disobeyed,  and  hired  a  boat ;  not 
that  he  wanted  the  sail,  but  only  because  he  thought 
it  would  be  pretty  to  do  just  what  he  was  told  not  to 
do.  He  rowed  up  to  the  cave,  hoping  he  might  find 
a  straggler  to  keep  him  company  on  his  return.  He 
did  find  a  straggler  ;  but  it  was  just  the  one  he  did  not 
•wish  to  see.  It  was  Mr.  Lowington,  who^with  his 
usual  care  and  prudence,  was  examining  the  locality, 
to  see  that  no  one  remained  behind,  either  by  accident 
or  design. 

McLeish  happened  to  see  him  as  he  stepped  down 
from  the  cliff,  and  realized  that  he  was  caught.  In 
stead  of  running  away,  however,  he  pulled  with  all 
his  might  towards  the  cave. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here,  McLeish?  "  demanded 
the  principal,  sternly. 

"  If  you  please,  sir,  one  of  the  fellows  has  tumbled 
over  the  cliff,  and  I  don't  know  but  he  is  dead  !  " 
shouted  the  rogue,  apparently  beside  himself  with  ex 
citement. 

"Where?"  demanded  Mr.  Lowington,  appalled  at 
the  intelligence,  and  not  suspecting  a  trick. 

"Just  above  here,  sir.     You  can't  get  to  him  with- 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND..AND   SCOTLAND.    2$l 

out  a  boat,"  added  McLeish,  as  he  ran  up  to  the 
shore. 

The  principal  leaped  into  the  boat,  and  McLeish 
pulled  vigorously  till  he  came  to  a  kind  of  shelf  in  the 
rock,  beneath  a  perpendicular  cliff. 

"  Right  there,  sir  !  "  exclaimed  the  young  rascal,  as 
the  boat  touched  the  rock.  "  Step  ashore,  Mr.  Low- 
ington,  and  keep  to  the  right." 

The  principal,  trembling  with  anxiety  for  the  in 
jured  pupil,  leaped  on  the  shelving  rock,  with  hardly 
a  glance  at  its  surroundings. 

"  Now,  pull  back  and  get  the  surgeon,  as  quick  as 
you  can.  Where  is  the  boy  ?  "  demanded  Mr.  Low- 
ington,  as  McLeish  pushed  off,  and  he  found  his  prog 
ress  in  the  direction  indicated  by  his  guide  cut  off  by 
a  perpendicular  rock. 

"  He's  all  in  your  eye  !  "  replied  McLeish,  with  a 
kind  of  a  whooping  laugh. 

It  needed  nothing  more  to  convince  the  principal 
that  he  had  been  deceived  by  the  new  pupil.  He 
looked  around  him,  and  found  that  he  was  on  the 
shelf  of  a  rock,  not  more  than  two  feet  wide,  with  the 
perpendicular  cliff  on  one  side  and  the  lake  on  the 
other.  He  could  not  climb  up  on  the  one  hand,  and 
could  only  escape  without  a  boat  on  the  other,  for  the 
deep  water  extended  up  to  the  verge  of  the  precipice. 

"•  Then  no  boy  has  been  injured,"  said  he,  after  he 
had  measured  his  situation. 

"  Not  one  of  them  ;  they  are  half  a  mile  from  here 
by  this  time,"  chuckled  the  young  reprobate. 

Without  regarding  his  own  situation,  Mr.  Lowing- 
ton  experienced  a  feeling  of  relief  to  be  assured  that 
24* 


282  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

none  of  the  boys  were  injured.  If  they  were  safe,  it 
mattered  little  to  him  whether  he  spent  the  night  on 
that  narrow  shelf  or  in  his  bed  at  the  hotel.  He  had 
sacrificed  his  personal  comfort  too  long  to  be  much 
disturbed  by  the  position  in  which  he  now  found  him 
self  placed. 

"Young  man,  what  do  you  intend  to  do?"  he 
asked,  quite  mildly,  certainly  not  in  the  storm  of  pas 
sion  which  the  young  villain  expected. 

"  Well,  dominie,  I  have  you  in  a  safe  place,"  re 
plied  McLeish,  coolly  poising  his  oars  so  as  to  keep 
the  boat  about  ten  feet  from  the  rock.  "  It  is  almost 
dark,  and  the  boats  are  all  in  by  this  time,  and  there 
is  no  chance  for  you  to  get  off  to-night,  unless  I  take 
you  off." 

McLeish  paused  when  he  had  thus  delivered  him 
self,  expecting  a  reply ;  but  Mr.  Lowington  said  nothing. 

"  You  insulted  me  this  morning,  dominie.  You 
ordered  one  of  your  blackguards  of  professors  to  take 
me  by  the  collar ;  and  that  was  an  insult  no  Mac- 
Gregor  can  bear." 

Again  he  paused  and  stared  at  the  Young  America's 
fountain  of  authority,  now  isolated  by  the  rock  and 
the  deep  from  his  power.  He  expected  a  thunder- 
sweep  of  invective  and  reproach,  and  he  was  disap 
pointed  because  it  did  not  come,  for  the  principal 
stood  in  silent  yet  noble  dignity. 

"  You  have  lost  your  tongue  —  have  you,  dominie? 
If  you'll  go  down  on  your  knees,  beg  my  pardon  for 
the  insult  put  upon  me,  and  promise  to  treat  me  well, 
I  will  let  you  off  the  rock.  Can't  you  speak,  dom 
inie?" 


YOUNG  AMERICA  IN   IRELAND  AND   SCOTLAND.    283 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say,  except  that  for  this  breach 
of  discipline  you  will  be  punished  on  your  return  to 
the  ship,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington,  calmly. 

"  That's  where  ye  are  —  is  it,  dominie?  You  may 
be  very  sure,  then,  I'll  no  return  to  the  ship.  Ye  can't 
treat  a  MacGregor  like  a  dog." 

"  I  never  argue  with  students,"  added  the  principal. 

"  You  don't !  Then  I'll  leave  you  where  ye  are. 
In  the  morning,  I'll  come  and  see  ye  again.  If 
you  feel  like  apologizing  for  the  insult  put  upon  a 
MacGregor,  I'll  take  you  off  then.  But  let  me  tal 
ye,  dominie,  the  night  is  long  and  cold,  and  if  the 
waters  rise,  they'll  drown  you.  Can  ye  speak  yet, 
dominie?  " 

Mr.  Lowington  made  no  reply. 

"  You'll  think  better  of  it  before  ye  see  the  light  of 
the  morning.  Good  night  to  ye,  dominie,"  continued 
McLeish,  as  he  pulled  away  from  the  spot. 

He  expected  to  be  recalled  ;  that  the  principal  would 
apologize  rather  than  remain  all  night  on  the  narrow 
rock.  He  ceased  rowing  when  he  had  gone  some 
distance  down  the  lake ;  but  no  sound  disturbed  him, 
and  he  returned  to  the  Inversnaid  Hotel. 


284  SHAMROCK  AND   THISTLE     OR 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

THE   MISFORTUNE    OF   THE    RUNAWAYS. 

UNDOUBTEDLY  Jock  Sanderson  was  an  honest 
young  man,  as  proved  by  the  return  of  the  gold 
he  had  taken  from  Wilton  and  Monroe,  when  it  was 
morally  certain  that  the  police  would  be  on  his  track 
by  the  following  morning,  if  not  sooner.  Wilton,  who 
\vas  quite  sure  he  could  see  entirely  through  a  mill 
stone  if  the  hole  went  through,  and  who  did  know 
the  way  from  the  frying-pan  into  the  fire,  thought  it 
was  very  kind  of  Jock  to  interest  himself  so  much  in 
the  affairs  of  a  couple  of  strangers  as  to  take  charge 
of  their  money  and  restore  it  at  the  right  time.  Jock 
was  disinterested,  and  even  magnanimous,  when  he 
had  the  coin  in  his  own  hands,  to  take  so  much  trouble 
and  such  a  long  walk  for  the  mere  sake  of  returning  it. 
Wilton  thought  so,  though  he  prudently  resolved  not 
to  get  so  drunk  again  as  to  require  the  services  of  such 
a  disinterested  friend. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  Jock  had  other  views 
himself.  It  is  possible  that  he  regarded  the  restoring 
of  the  gold  to  the  "  young  larks  "  as  an  act  of  personal 
self-denial  indulged  in  from  prudential  motives,  but 
not  the  less  a  sacrifice  on  that  account.  It  may  be 
that  he  performed  the  noble  deed  under  the  impulse 


YOUNG  AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    285 

of  generous  emotion,  as  a  man  may  give  a  hundred 
dollars  to  charity,  and  regret  it  to  the  end  of  his  life. 
At  any  rate.  Jock  felt  that  he  had  overdone  the  "  gen 
erous  impulses,"  and  had  sacrificed  five  and  thirty 
pounds  to  his  own  pusillanimous  terror. 

On  Monday  forenoon,  as  it  was  not  then  imperative 
upon  him  to  go  to  the  kirk,  he  called  at  the  small  ho 
tel  where  the  runaways  lodged,  possibly  with  the  hope 
of  reclaiming  some  portion  of  the  filthy  lucre  which 
the  nobility  of  his  nature  had  prompted  him  to  sacri- 
"fice.  Pelham  had  just  departed  on  his  separate  course, 
and  the  other  two  runaways  were  considering  what 
they  should  do,  and  where  they  should  go.  Wilton 
did  not  intend  to  waste  any  of  his  time  in  observing 
the  beauties  of  the  Scottish  lakes.  He  was  in  favor 
of  London  and  Paris  before  the  gold  was  exhausted. 
But  Edinburgh  was  a  great  city,  not  much  out  of  their 
course  in  the  journey  to  the  metropolis,  and  it  was  de 
cided  to  go  there  at  once. 

"  There  is  a  train  at  quarter  of  twelve,  and  we 
shall  be  there  in  a  couple  of  hours,"  added  Wilton, 
consulting  a  railway  programme  he  had  obtained  in 
the  street. 

"  We  shall  not  see  the  lakes,  then,"  said  Monroe. 

"  Hang  the  lakes  !  What  do  we  care  for  them  !  " 
replied  Wilton,  impatiently.  "  I  came  off  for  a  good 
time,  and  I'm  going  to  have  it.  In  London  we  can 
go  to  the  theatre  every  night,  and  see  the  oalaces  in 
the  daytime." 

The  door  opened,  and  Jock  Sanderson  entered  with 
out  the  formality  of  a  knock. 

"  Well,  my  larkics,  how  is  it  with  ye  to-day  ?  "  said 


286  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

the  self-sacrificing  young  man.  "  I  warrant  ye  did  not 
go  to  the  kirk  after  I  left  you  yesterday." 

"  How  are  you,  Jock?  I'm  glad  to  see  you,"  replied 
Wilton,  heartily. 

"  You  may  well  be  glad  to  see  me.  How  is  it  ye 
are  not  gone  ?  " 

"  We  are  just  going." 

"  Where  are  you  going?  " 

"  To  Edinburgh." 

"  You  are  in  luck,  then,  for  I'm  going  there  myself 
to-day.  You'll  lose  all  your  money  again  before 
night,  if  I  don't  look  out  for  you." 

"  No,  we  are  going  to  be  careful  now,"  added  Wil 
ton,  sheepishly. 

But  Jock  kindly  offered  to  take  charge  of  the 
"  larkies,"  and  at  the  appointed  time  they  took  the 
train  for  Edinburgh,  with  which  their  devoted  friend 
was  as  familiar  as  with  Glasgow.  A  double-bedded 
room  was  obtained  in  a  cheap  hotel,  and  of  course 
they  went  to  the  theatre  in  the  "evening ;  for  such 
amusements  suited  Wilton  better  than  examining  the 
wonders  of  the  "Modern  Athens"  in  which  he  so* 
journed. 

"Jock,  I'm  going  to  have  a  good  time  to-night,  but 
I'm  going  to  be  careful.  How  much  money  do  I  need 
to  spend?"  asked  Wilton,  after  supper. 

"  At  the  Princess's  Theatre  the  tickets  will  be  two 
shillings,"  replied  Jock. 

"  I'm  going  to  leave  my  moneyat  the  hotel.  How 
much  shall  I  take  with  me  !  " 

"  Not  more  than  five  shillings,"  answered  the  pru« 
dent  Scotchman. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    287 

"  But  I  want  to  pay  for  your  ticket,  of  course,"  said 
the  liberal  Wilton. 

"  Sairtainly  ;  take  six  or  seven  shillings  —  not  more. 
But  where  are  you  going  to  put  your  money?' 

"  I  have  a  nice  place  for  it,  where  no  rogue  would 
find  it,"  added  the  cunning  contriver,  as  he  lifted  the 
bed-clothes  and  thrust  his  purse  into  an  opening  in  the 
mattress. 

"  Don't  do  it,  larkie.     It's  no  safe  there.     How  do 
you  know  but  some  one  in  the  passage  or  in  the  next, 
rooms  haird  what  ye  said?" 

"  I'll  risk  it." 

"  I'll  do  the  same,"  added  Monroe,  as  he  put  his 
gold  into  the  other  bed. 

"  You  are  mad,"  protested  Jock.  "  The  beds  may  be 
changed,  you  may  have  been  overhaird,  or  the  house 
may  burn  down." 

"  There  is  no  danger,"  said  Wilton,  who  had  so  of 
ten  used  his  bed  as  a  hiding-place  for  interdicted  wares 
that  he  had  full  confidence  in  the  security  of  the  mat 
tress. 

Jock  was  eloquent  in  his  denunciation  of  the  policy 
of  the  "  larks,"  but  Wilton  was  as  headstrong  as  usual. 
He  even  offered  to  take  charge  of  the  gold  himself; 
but,  though  Wilton  had  perfect  faith  in  the  immaculate 
honesty  of  Jock,  he  wished  to  prove  that  the  bed  was 
a  safe  place.  He  was  determined  to  have  his  own 
way,  and  he  had  it.  The  party  went  to  the  Princess's, 
saw  Mr.  Phelps  as  Sir  Pertinax  McSycophant,  —  in 
which  he  brawled  in  broad  Scotch,  —  drank  all  the 
wine  and  beer  they  could  stand  under,  and  returned 
to  the  hotel  at  midnight.  * 


2SS  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

On  their  arrival  Wilton  insisted  on  having  a  Welsh 
rarebit  and  a  glass  of  beer  before  he  turned  in.  But 
the  moral  Jock  declaimed  that  his  digestion  would  be  de 
ranged  if  he  ate  any  more,  and  it  was  not  proper  to 
drink  another  drop.  He  went  to  his  chamber,  which 
was  on  the  floor  below  that  of  his  companions  ;  but  he 
did  not  go  there  till  he  had  visited  the  room  of  the 
"larkies,"  having  procured  the  keys  of  both  rooms  for 
this  purpose.  Lifting  up  the  beds,  he  emptied  the 
purses  of  his  jolly  friends  into  his  pockets,  and  re 
stored  them  to  their  hiding-places,  having  first  filled 
them  with  copper  coins. 

In  his  own  room  there  was  a  grate,  in  the  flue  of  whicn 
he  placed  the  ill-gotten  gold,  after  he  had  rolled  it  up 
in  a  piece  of  newspaper.  He  then  locked  his  door, 
and  went  down  stairs  to  the  coffee-room,  where  his 
companions  were  waiting  for  the  rarebit.  They  had 
drank  part  of  their  ale,  and  both  of  them  were  so  fud 
dled  *hat  they  hardly  knew  where  they  were,  or  what 
they  were  doing. 

"  Come,  larkies,  go  to  your  bed,"  said  Jock,  as  he 
took  Wilton  by  the  shoulder  with  one  hand,  while  he 
dropped  the  key  of  his  room  in  his  jacket  pocket  with 
the  other. 

"  Top  up  your  boom,  old  fellow,"  stammered  Wil 
ton,  who  was  disposed  to  use  nautical  slang  when  he 
was  tipsy.  "  I  don't  go  to  bed  till  I've  had  my  toast' 
cheese." 

The  rarebit  came  then  ;  a  portion  of  it  was  eaten, 
and  the  rest  of  the  ale  drank. 

"  Come,  now,  lads !  I  have  to  go  back  to  Glas 
gow  in  the  morning,"  said  Jock,  lifting  Wilton  from 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    289 

his  chair,  while  the  waiter  did  the  same  service  for 
Monroe. 

"I'm  ready  now.  Where's  my  key?"  said  Wilton, 
in  muddled  tones. 

"  In  your  pocket,  where  you  put  it,"  answered  Jock. 

"  All  right,"  added  the  young  tippler,  as  he  took  the 
key  from  his  side  pocket.  "  See  here,  you  Scotch 
humbug  ;  take  a  reef  in  your  toplights  !  Do  you  want 
to  bet  five  shillings  I  find  my  money  where  I  put  it?" 

"  Perhaps  you  will." 

"Will  you  bet?" 

"  Yes,  anything  to  get  you  to  bed  ! " 

"  Waiter  !  "  roared  Wilton. 

"Sir?" 

"  Witness,  he  bets  five  shillings." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  waiter. 

The  tipsy  young  gentlemen  were  led  to  their  room. 
The  servant  was  not  disposed  to  leave  till  he  had  been 
paid  for  his  trouble.  Wilton  tore  open  the  bed,  and 
after  fumbling  about  some  time,  produced  his  purse. 

"  There,  you  Scotch  humbug,  you  owe  me  five  shil 
lings,"  stuttered  he,  as  he  held  out  the  purse,  apparently 
the  same  as  he  had  left  it.  "You've  lost  the  bet." 

"  So  I  have.  I  will  pay  it  in  the  morning.  Get  into 
oed  now,  and  go  to  sleep." 

Jock  gave  the  waiter  half  a  crown,  when  the  young 
inebriates  were  ready  to  get  into  bed.  Asking  Mon 
roe,  who  was  the  more  sober  of  the  two,  to  lock  the 
door,  he  left  the  room'  and  retired  to  his  own  apart 
ment. 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  knocked  at  the 
ioor  of  the  revellers,  and  was  admitted.  He  told  them 


290  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OP 

he  must  leave  for  Glasgow  at  once,  and  had  come  to 
bid  them  good  by. 

"  Is  your  money  all  right?  "  he  asked. 

"  All  right,"  replied  Wilton,  putting  his  hand  on  the 
purse  which  he  had  placed  under  his  pillow. 

"  Then  I  will  pay  my  bet." 

"  Never  mind  that,"  protested  Wilton. 

But  Jock,  with  his  usual  magnanimity,  insisted  upon 
paying  the  five  shillings,  and,  shaking  hands  with  both 
of  the  runaways,  bade  them  an  affectionate  adieu.  On 
his  way  down  stairs  he  took  the  roll  of  sovereigns  from 
the  flue  in  his  room,  and  in  half  an  hour  was  on  his 
way  to  London  by  the  east  coast,  instead  of  Glasgow. 

Wilton  and  Monroe  went  to  sleep  again,  and  slept 
till  the  middle  of  the  forenoon.  When  they  waked 
and  dressed  themselves,  very  likely  they  thought  that 
such  debauchery  as  that  in  which  they  had  indulged 
was  unprofitable  in  a  physical  point  of  view  ;  for  their 
heavy,  aching  heads  must  have  brought  this  truth  home 
to  them.  But  before  they  left  the  chamber,  they  made 
the  amazing  discovery  that  their  golden  sovereigns  had 
been  mysteriously  transformed  into  base  copper  coins. 
Neither  of  them  could  account  for  the  change,  and 
neither  of  them  suspected  Jock  Sanderson. 

The  runaways  were  confounded  by  this  repetition 
of  their  former  misfortune  ;  but  they  promptly  sent  for 
the  landlord,  and  informed  him  of  the  loss.  An  in 
vestigation  was  commenced,  and  the  police  sent  for. 
Wilton,  anxious  to  recover  his  money,  told  the  whole 
truth  in  regard  to  his  intoxication.  The  detective, 
who  had  been  sent  to  work  up  the  case,  examined 
the  servant  and  the  runaways.  Jock  Sanderson  waa 


VOUNG  AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    29! 

wanted,  but  of  course  he  could  not  be  found.  Wilton 
and  the  servant  —  to  whom  Jock  had  given  half  a 
crown  —  were  quite  sure  the  absentee  had  not  stolen 
the  money.  He  had  eloquently  protested  against  the 
plan  of  hiding  the  money  in  the  bed,  and  had  taken 
the  pains  to  assure  himself  that  the  money  was  all 
right  before  he  parted  with  them.  A  man  who  h.ad 
occupied  the  adjoining  chamber  had  left  for  London 
at  quarter  of  ten  the  night  before. 

The  officer,  after  visiting  Glasgow  with  Wilton,  and 
looking  into  the  gambling  saloon  where  the  runaways 
had  suffered  before,  was  satisfied  that  Jock  was  *the 
thief;  but  Jock  was  not  to  be  found.  He  had  left  Scot 
land,  and  it  was  doubtful  if  he  was  ever  found.  He 
was  a  professional  swindler,  and  Wilton  wilted  when, 
he  realized  the  fact.  He  had  been  dull  and  stupid,  as 
well  as  vicious  and  intemperate.  He  began  to  think 
that  he  was  not  capable  of  taking  care  of  himself,  es 
pecially  when  Monroe  reproached  him  for  permitting 
Pelham  to  part  company  with  them. 

A  week  was  used  up  in  vain  efforts  to  recover  the 
money  lost,  and  then  the  landlord  manifested  an  anx 
iety  to  know  whether  his  bill  was  to  be  paid  or  not. 
Wilton  had  a  gold  watch  worth  a  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars  in  New  York.  The  landlord  took  him  to 
a  respectable  jeweller,  and  telling  the  story  of  the  rob 
bery,  induced  him  to  purchase  the  watch  for  twelve 
pounds.  Monroe  had  a  silver  one,  which  brought 
three  pounds.  Both  of  the  runaways  were  thus  en 
abled  to  pay  their  bills  at  the  hotel. 

They  had  not  yet  lost  all  hope  of  recovering  their 
money,  for  it  was  expected  the  detectives  in  London, 


292  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

whither  Jock  had  been  traced,  would  arrest  the  rogua 
Every  day  they  went  to  the  police  office  to  ascertain 
if  there  was  any  news  of  the  swindler  ;  but  Jock  took 
good  care  of  himself,  and  nothing  was  heard  of  him. 
Another  week  passed  away  in  vain  waiting,  and  the 
funds  of  Wilton  were  wasting  away,  Monroe's  exche 
quer  being  already  exhausted.  The  landlord,  in  con 
sideration  of  their  misfortunes,  boarded  them  for  thirty 
shillings  a  week.  In  another  week  or  two  they  ex 
pected  to  find  remittances  from  -home  in  London,  and 
when,  on  the  ist  of  June,  they  read  in  the  newspaper 
that  the  Young  America  had  arrived,  two  days  before, 
at  Greenock,  it  was  not  deemed  prudent  to  remain  in 
Scotland  any  longer.  Wilton  paid  the  bill  at  the  hotel, 
and  they  were  on  the  point  of  starting  for  the  railroad 
station,  whe-n  a  man  whom  they  had  frequently  seen, 
about  the  hotel  spoke  to  them. 

"Where  now,  my  lads?"  said  he. 

"  To  London,"  answered  Wilton. 

"  No,  I  think  not,"  added  the  stranger,  with  an  un 
necessarily  broad  grin  on  his  fat  face. 

"  I  don't  know  that  it  makes  any  difference  what  you 
think,"  retorted  Wilton,  smartly,  and  offended  by  the 
manner  of  the  man. 

"  Ah,  but  it  does,"  laughed  the  man.  "I've  had  my 
eye  on  you  for  a  fortnight." 

"  Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  you  know  one  Mr.  Fluxion.  You  needn't 
answer.  I  think  you  know  him  well.  He  followed 
you  till  he  was  tired  of  the  job,  and  then  he  employed 
jne  to  continue  the  search.  I  am  a  detective,  at  your 
service." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     293 

Wilton  and  Monroe  looked  blank. 

"  Perhaps,  if  you  had  not  gone  to  the  police  to  fint 
your  money,  I  might  not  have  come  across  you  si 
soon.     I  traced  ydu   from   Chester  to  Glasgow,  and 
there  I  heard  that  two  young  men  had  been  robbed. 
I  see  your  ship  is  at  Greenock." 

"  What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  us?"  demanded 
Wilton,  appalled  at  the  man's  position. 

"  I  shall  merely  return  you  to  your  ship,  if  you  are 
willing  to  go." 

"  Suppose  we  are  not  willing  to  go." 

"  Then  I  must  get  out  a  warrant  and  arrest  you  for 
stealing,"  added  the  detective,  grinning  at  the  chagrin 
of  his  victims. 

"  For  stealing !  "  exclaimed  Monroe. 

"  For  taking  sixty  pounds  from  the  ship's  safe. 
Will  you  go  with  me  quietly,  or  not?" 

u  We  will  go  with  you,"  replied  Wilton  ;  for  the 
idea  of  being  arrested  for  stealing  was  terrible,  even 
to  him. 

"  That's  sensible,  and  I  won't  trouble  you  as  long  as 
you  behave  well.  I  should  have  introduced  myself 
before,  but  I  was  waiting  for  your  ship  to  arrive.  I 
suppose  you  haven't  heard  from  the  young  blood  who 
left  you  at' Glasgow  ?  " 

"Pelham?" 

"  Ay,  that's  his  name." 

"  We  have  not." 

"  Then  I  can  give  you  news  of  him,"  chuckled  the 
detective.  "  He  is  at  Inversnaid  —  living  upon  the  fat 
of  the  land." 

44  Where's  Inversnaid  ?  "  asked  Wilton. 
25* 


294  SHAMKOCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  On  Loch  Lomond.  There  were  two  of  us  on 
your  track,  —  Bidden  and  me,  —  and  when  you  sepa 
rated,  Bulden  went  after  Pelham,  and  I  followed  you  to 
Edinburgh.  Bulden  wrote  me  a  letter  the  other  day, 
and  he  says  his  young  gentleman  is  a  perfect  Julius 
Caesar,  and  he  don't  want  to  disturb  him.  Mr.  Fluxion 
and  I  travelled  together  one  day,  round  about  Holy- 
head  and  Chester.  He  told  me  the  ship's  company 
would  visit  Edinburgh  ;  but  as  you  think  of  going  to 
London,  I  can't  just  wait  for  them  to  come  here." 

It  was  surprising  that  one  who  could  talk  so  fast 
had  kept  quiet  for  more  than  a  week  while  watching 
the  runaways.  But  Mr.  John  Gearing,  the  fat  detec 
tive,  was  a  Napoleon  in  his  business.  He  laughed, 
kept  fat,  and  followed  out  a  thread  so  fine  that  no  one 
else  could  see  it.  He  graciously  related  to  the  two 
rogues,  upon  whom  he  had  kept  his  eye  so  long,  the 
whole  story  of  Pelham's  adventure. 

Gearing  and  Bulden  seemed  to  be  making  a  good 
job  of  the  business  intrusted  to  them  by  Mr.  Fluxion, 
and  to  be  in  no  hurry  to  restore  the  runaways  to  their 
employers.  The  Young  America  was  in  the  north  of 
Ireland  when  they  first  discovered  their  victims  ;  and, 
fearing  the  ship  might  leave  before  they  could  reach 
her,  they  preferred  to  wait  for  her  arrival  in  Scotland, 
knowing  she  would  first  anchor  at  Greenock. 

"  Now,  young  gentlemen,  we  will  start  for  Glasgow, 
instead  of  London,"  said  John  Gearing. 

"  We  are  all  ready,"  replied  Wilton,  who  had  no 
more  idea  of  being  returned  to  the  ship  than  he  had 
of  being  made  a  Knight  of  the  Bath. 

He  believed  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  escap« 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     29^ 

from  such  a  fat,  lazy,  good-natured  fellow  as  John 
Gearing.  On  their  arrival  in  Glasgow,  it  was  neces 
sary  for  the  party  to  cross  the  city  to  reach  the  Gree- 
nock  and  Paisley  Railway,  for  the  ship  was  still  at  her 
anchorage  at  the  mouth  of  the  Clyde.  In  passing 
through  Buchanan  Street,  Wilton  invited  Gearing  to 
take  a  mug  of  beer,  an  invitation  which  John  Gearing 
never  refused.  They  sat  down  at  one  of  the  tables  in 
the  public  house.  The  jolly  detective  enjoyed  his  ale, 
and  was  disposed  to  prolong  the  pleasure  it  afforded. 
Wilton  asked  to  be  excused  for  a  moment,  and  slipped 
out  at  the  back  door,  followed  by  Monroe. 

They  forgot  to  return  ;  for,  seeing  a  gate  open  in 
the  yard,  they  accepted  the  suggestion  which  it  seemed 
to  offer,  passed  out  into  a  lane,  and  thence  into  a  back 
street.  On  Sundays,  when  every  dram-shop  must  be 
closed,  this  back-yard  entrance-was  used  to  admit  the 
regular  customers.  Wilton  and  Monroe  travelled 
rapidly,  and  in  a  few  moments  reached  the  railway 
station  from  which  they  had  come.  A'  train  was  just 
starting  for  Edinburgh,  and  taking  third-class  tickets, 
they  were  out  of  the  city  before  John  Gearing  had  fin 
ished  his  mug  of  ale. 

John  Gearing  was  shrewd  and  sharp ;  but,  while 
imbibing  his  favorite  beverage  at  the  expense  of  his 
prisoners,  —  though  he  did  not  regard  them  as  such,  — 
it  seemed  unkind  to  suspect  them  of  a  trick.  He  fin 
ished  his  ale,  and  began  to  wonder  that  the  young 
gentlemen  did  not  return.  He  went  to  the  back  door, 
and  saw  the  open  gate.  Their  prolonged  absence  was 
explained ;  but  John  Gearing  was  not  disconcerted. 
Perhaps,  as  the  detective  business  was  quite  dull,  he 


.296  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

rather  enjoyed  the  prospect  of  following  the  runaways 
for  another  week  or  two,  at  the  expense  of  his  env 
ployer. 

Having  entire  confidence  in  John  Gearing's  profe*1 
sional  skill  and  perseverance,  as  long  as  he  is  paid  ten 
shillings  a  day,  we  will  leave  him  to  find  the  two  run 
aways,  and  return  to  Air.  Lowington,  who  was  left  in 
a  very  uncomfortable  and  cheerless  position  on  the 
rock  at  Loch  Lomond.  He  was  too  dignified  and 
independent  to  exchange  any  argument  or  use  any 
persuasion  with  such  a  reprobate  as  Arthur  McLeish. 
It  involved  less  sacrifice  to  remain  all  night  on  the 
rock  than  to  make  degrading  terms  with  a  rebel. 

The  sun  had  gone  down ;  the  twilight  had  faded 
into  the  gloom  of  night,  and  the  waters  rippled  at  his 
feet  in  the  darkness  as  they  had  in  the  light.  No 
friendly  sail  was  to  be  seen  on  the  lake,  and  no  sound 
of  footsteps  echoed  from  the  rocks  above.  The  prin 
cipal  was  not  too  dignified  to  be  fatigued  by  the  care 
and  labor  of'  a  faithful  supervision  of  the  students 
under  his  charge,  and  he  was  well  nigh  exhausted. 
He  sat  down  upon  the  cold,  damp  rock,  but  turned 
up  his  coat-collar,  and  prepared  to  spend  the  night  in 
this  gloomy  situation. 

But  when  he  had  given  up  all  hope  of  succor,  it 
came.  Above  the  gentle  ripple  of  the  little  waves  at 
his  feet,  he  heard,  in  the  gloom  of  the  evening,  the 
"  lapping  "  sound  which  a  boat  makes  in  going  with 
a  gentle  breeze  through  the  water.  A  white  sail  was 
immediately  descried  in  the  darkness. 

"  Boat  ahoy  !  "  called  the  principal,  in  tones  so  dig 
nified  that  no  one  would  have  suspected  the  unpleas* 
intness  of  his  position. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    29^ 

"  On  shore  !  "  replied  a  voice  from  the  boat,  which 
was  only  a  short  distance  from  the  rock. 

"•  This  way,  if  you  please,"  added  Mr.  Lowington. 
"  I  need  assistance." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  replied  the  person  at  the  helm,  as  he 
ran  the  boat  up  to  the  rock. 

There  were  in  the  boat,  besides  the  helmsman,  a 
gentleman,  two  ladies,  and  a  lad  of  ten  or  eleven.  The 
gentleman  courteously  extended  his  hand  to  Mr.  Low 
ington,  and  invited  him  to  come  on  board,  which  the 
principal  was  very  willing  to  do. 

"  Indeed,  sir,  this  is  quite  an  adventure,"  said  the 
polite  gentleman,  as  he  handed  Mr.  Lowington  to  a 
seat.  "  The  shelf  is  a  very  uncomfortable  place  to 
spend  a  night.  Did  your  boat  break  adrift?" 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  was  left  there  by  a  person  who  wished 
to  play  a  trick  upon  me,"  replied  the  principal. 

u  Let  the  boom  over,  if  you  please,  Mr.  McLaurin," 
said  the  skipper  of  the  boat. 

"  Pelham  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Lowington,  as  he  iden 
tified  the  voice  of  the  fourth  lieutenant  of  the  ship. 

"  Mr.  Lowington  !  "  added  the  runaway,  feeling  as 
though  he  should  sink  through  the  bottom  of  the  boat. 

"  Ah,  is  it  possible ! "  ejaculated  Mr.  McLaurin. 
"  This  is  a  very  unexpected  pleasure  ;  but  we  are  not 
the  less  glad  to  see  you,  sir,  for  through  our  young 
friend  Mr.  Pelham  we  know  all  about  you.  Indeed, 
sir,  you  will  permit  me  to  congratulate  you  upon 
having  such  a  noble  young  gentleman  in  your  nautical 
school  as  Mr.  Pelham." 

Mr.  Lowington  did  not  exactly  "  see "  it ;  but  the 
Scotch  gentleman  introduced  his  wife,  daughter,  and 


298  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,   OR 

son.  They  had  been  up  to  Glen  Falloch,  at  the  head 
of  the  loch,  and  having  dined  late  at  the  Inverarnnn 
Hotel,  the  light  wind  had  prevented  them  from  reach 
ing  home  before  dark.  When  the  boat  arrived  at  the 
landing,  Mr.  McLaurin  had  told  all  about  the  "  glori 
ous  "  conduct  of  Pelham  in  saving  the  life  of  poor  Rob. 
The  principal's  heart  glowed  with  generous  emotions 
while  he  listened  to  the  recital  of  his  pupil's  noble 
deed  ;  but  he  could  not  forget  that  Pelham  was  a  runa 
way,  if  not  a  thief. 

When  the  party  landed,  Mr.  Lowington  accepted  an 
invitation  to  visit  the  lodge,  and  on  his  arrival  at  the 
house,  sent  a  note  to  Mr.  Fluxion.  The  absence  of 
the  principal  was  not  discovered  till  the  party  reached 
the  hotel ;  for  no  one  kept  the  run  of  his  movements. 
He  was  not  present  at  tea  ;  but  no  one  supposed  that 
he  was  not  about  his  business,  wherever  it  happened 
to  be.  McLeish  had  returned,  and  it  was  not  discov 
ered  that  he  had  been  away  from  the  hotel. 

Most  of  the  boys  had  retired  when  the  note  came 
for  Mr.  Fluxion,  but  McLeish  was  not  of  this  number. 
He  was  too  nervous,  after  what  he  had  done,  to  go  to 
sleep.  He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  leave  the  ship's 
company  in  the  morning,  in  season  to  avoid  the  con 
sequences  which  would  follow  the  return  of  the  prin 
cipal.  He  was  well  satisfied  with  his  own  conduct ; 
he  had  obtained  a  revenge  worthy  of  a  MacGregor  in 
his  own  estimation,  and  he  could  not  resist  the  incli 
nation  to  whisper  his  daring  deed  to  one  or  two  con 
genial  spirits.  Though  he  was  not  now  on  the  best 
terms  with  Templeton,  he  was  the  most  hopeful  con 
fidant  within  his  reach. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    299 

"  Do  ye  mind  what  I  told  you  in  the  morning,  Tam- 
pleton  ?  "  said  he,  with  more  Scotch  twang  than  usual. 

"  About  what  —  licking  me  ?  "  replied  "  our  fellow," 
gruffly. 

"  No,  not  that ;  about  the  dominie  that  insulted  me." 

"What  of  it?" 

"  Can  ye  keep  a  secret?" 

"  Of  course  I  can." 

"Will  ye  keep  it?" 
"  "  Certainly  I  will." 

"  I'm  even  with  the  dominie  now." 

"  What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Templeton,  curiously. 

"Ye  don't  see  the  dominie  anywhere  —  do  ye?" 

"  No,  I  haven't  seen  him  since  we  were  at  the  cave." 

"  I  made  him  a  prisoner  up  there,  and  he'll  stay 
where  I  put  him  to-night,"  chuckled  McLeish,  who 
proceeded  to  describe  what  he  had  done  more  particu 
larly. 

"  You'll  catch  it  in  the  morning,"  said  Templeton. 

"  I'll  no  be  here  when  he  comes  back.  I'll  take  the 
steamer  down  the  lake  before  saven  in  the  morning, 
and  he'll  no  be  back  as  soon  as  that.  Will  ye  go  with 
me?" 

"  I  haven't  any  money." 

"  I  have  a  matter  of  five  pounds  about  me." 

If  it  had  been  any  other  person,  Templeton  would 
have  considered  the  proposition,  but  he  did  not  think 
favorably  of  the  bully  in  a  runaway  excursion  ;  yet  he 
promised  to  give  his  answer  early  in  the  morning. 

"  I'll  think  the  dominie  will  respact  me  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  feel  that  a  MacGregor  is  not  to  be  insulted," 
added  McLeish. 


3OO  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"Are  you  sure  the  principal  can't  getofTthe  rock?" 
asked  his  companion. 

"  Quite  sure." 

At  that  moment  Mr.  Fluxion  walked  up  to  McLeish, 
•who  was  seated  in  front  of  the  hotel,  and  taking  him 
very  unceremoniously  by  the  collar,  dragged  him  into 
the  house,  and  up  stairs  to  a  chamber. 

"  What  are  you  doing,  man  ?  "  sputtered  McLeish,  as 
the  professor  of  mathematics  pitched  him  into  a  chair. 

An  instant  later  Mr.  Lowington,  who  had  instructed 
Mr.  Fluxion  to  secure  the  reprobate  before  his  return 
should  give  him  the  alarm,  entered  the  room,  and 
McLeish  needed  no  further  explanation.  The  prin 
cipal  detailed  the  trick  which  had  been  played  upon 
him  to  the  professor. 

"  I  shall  have  to  trouble  you  to  return  to  the  ship  in 
the  morning  with  this  McLeish,  and  hand  him  over  to 
Mr.  Peaks,  who  will  keep  him  in  the  brig  till  we  re 
turn,"  added  Mr.  Lowington,  mildly. 

"In  the  brig  —  is  it?"  exclaimed  McLeish,  who  had 
heard  of  that  institution.  "  You'll  no  do  it !  " 

"  I  think  we  will.  If  you  don't  behave  yourself,  I'll 
put  you  in  irons  at  once,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion. 

"  Why  don't  you  expal  me?  That's  all  you  have  a 
right  to  do,"  protested  the  rebel. 

"  We  don't  expel  boys  ;  we  make  them  obey  orders," 
added  the  principal. 

"  I'll  no  stand  this,"  roared  McLeish,  becoming  very 
violent. 

Mr.  Fluxion  had  a  pair  of  irons  with  him,  which  he 
had  carried  in  his  bag  with  special  reference  to  Wilton, 
when  he  expected  to  arrest  him.  He  took  them  out, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    30! 

and  in  spite  of  an  energetic  resistance  on  the  part  of 
the  culprit,  put  them  on  his  wrists.  He  roared  like  a 
bull  then,  and  it  was  not  till  Mr.  Fluxion  threatened 
him  with  a  gag  that  he  consented  to  hold  his  peace. 
He  was  locked  up  for  the  night,  and  finding  he  made 
nothing  by  resistance,  he  submitted  for  the  present  to 
his  captor. 

Agreeably  to  his  promise,  Mr.  Lowington  returned 
to  the  lodge  to  spend  the  night  with  Mr.  McLaunn  ; 
and  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  it  in  the  parlor  with 
Pelham  and  his  host.  While  the  principal  was  at  the 
hotel  attending  to  the  case  of  McLeish,  the  runaway, 
of  his  own  accord,  had  made  a  "  clean  breast"  of  his 
desertion  to  his  kind  friend,  who  was  amazed  that  one 
so  "  gloriously  noble  "  should  be  an  offender. 

When  Mr.  Lowington  returned,  they  held  a  confer 
ence  on  the  subject.  Mr.  McLaurin  begged  that  Pel- 
ham  might  be  pardoned  and  restored  to  favor,  without 
detriment  to  his  position  as  an  officer.  After  a  great 
deal  of  argument,  the  principal  yielded  the  point. 

"  But,"  added  he,  "  his  lost  time  will  certainly  de 
prive  him  of  his  office  on  the  first  of  July  ;  and  his 
rank  then  will  be  very  low." 

"  Can  nothing  be  done?"  pleaded  the  grateful  host. 
"  Surely  he  ought  not  to  suffer  for  his  noble  con 
duct."  > 

"  He  will  not  suffer  for  that,  but  for  running  away 
and  losing  his  marks." 

"  I  do  not  complain,"  interposed  the  culprit.  "My 
conduct  makes  me  feel  mean,  and  I  think  the  steerage 
will  be  the  best  place  for  me." 

"  I  certainly  cannot  give  him  any  marks  which  he 
26 


302  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

did  not  earn,  though  he  may  make  them  up  if  he  can. 
He  shall  take  his  place  as  an  officer,  with  free  pardon, 
to-morrow  morning.  I  can  do  no  more  for  him,"  add 
ed  Mr.  Lowington,  firmly. 

Mr.  McLaurin  wanted  to  do  something  more  for 
him  —  wished  to  make  him  a  present;  but  the  princi 
pal  said  his  father  was  a  very  wealthy  man,  and  a  gift 
in  money  would  be  offensive.  While  the  party  were 
in  Edinburgh,  a  few  days  later,  he  gave  him  an  ele 
gant  gold  watch  and  chain,  to  take  the  place  of  the 
one  he  had  been  obliged  to  sell. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.    303 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

STIRLING   CASTLE. 

I  HAVE  a  letter  from  John  Gearing,"  said  Bulden, 
the  detective,   addressing  Mr.  Fluxion  when  he 
went  on  board  the  steamer  in  the  morning  with  his 
prisoner. 

"  What  does  he  say?  Has  he  found  the  other  two 
runaways?  "  demanded  the  professor. 

"  He  has  ;  but  the  rogues  gave  him  the  slip  in  Glas 
gow.  He  will  certainly  catch  them  again.  I  suppose 
my  work  is  finished,"  added  Bulden. 

"  Not  quite,"  replied  Mr.  Fluxion,  glancing  at 
McLeish,  who  had  sullenly  taken  a  seat  in  the  saloon 
of  the  steamer.  "  You  saw  the  lad  I  brought  on 
board?" 

"  I  did,  sir." 

"  Before  I  reach  the  ship,  he  will  attempt  to  run 
away.  He  does  not  know  you,  and  you  will  prevent 
his  escape." 

.The  steamer  went  on  her  way.  Bulden  had  before 
reported  to  Mr.  Fluxion  in  regard  to  Pelham,  though 
not  till  after  the  return  of  the  party  from  Rob  Roy's 
Cave.  When  the  boat  touched  at  Luss,  McLeish 
jumped  through  one  of  the  open  windows  of  the 
saloon,  and  made  his  way  to  the  shore  ;  but  great  was 


304  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

his  astonishment  when  Bulclen,  who  had  gone  upon 
the  pier  for  the  purpose  of  watching  him,  took  him 
by  the  collar  and  dragged  him  on  board  again.  The 
attempt  to  escape  was  repeated  at  Balloch  Pier,  but 
with  no  better  success ;  and  before  noon  he  was  con 
signed  to  the  care  of  Peaks,  and  locked  up  in  the 
brig.  Bidden  was  sent  to  the  assistance  of  John  Gear 
ing  in  the  search  for  Wilton  and  Monroe,  and  Mr. 
Fluxion  returned  to  the  party  in  Stirling. 

After  breakfast  at  the  Inversnaid  Hotel,  the  boat 
swain's  whistle  piped  the  ship's  company  together. 
Mr.  Lowington  appeared  with  Pclham.  The  fourth 
lieutenant  had  put  on  his  cap,  and  sewed  the  shoulder- 
straps  and  gold  lace  upon  his  coat ;  or  rather  it  had 
been  done  by  the  fair  hands  of  Maggie  McLaurin, 
under  his  superintendence,  and  he  looked  as  much 
like  an  officer  as  ever.  The  principal  explained  hig 
position,  narrating  in  detail  the  noble  conduct  of  PeL 
ham  at  Rob  Roy's  Cave.  The  story  was  thrilling, 
and  the  boys  cheered  when  it  was  finished. 

Mr.  Lowington  could  not  justify  the  act  of  running 
away,  but  he  was  willing  to  let  the  good  deed  balance 
the  bad  one.  Pelham  then  made  a  speech  himself, 
expressing  his  gratitude  for  the  kindness  and  consid 
eration  which  had  been  bestowed  upon  him.  He  con 
fessed  his  error,  and  told  how  mean  he  felt,  when  the 
inspiration  of  the  good  deed  he  had  clone  raised  him 
above  the  low  plane  of  a  rebel  and  a  runaway.  He 
Was  willing  now  to  acknowledge  that  a  free  use  of 
their  own  funds  would  be  a  great  injury  to  the  stu 
dents,  fostering  vice  and  promoting  insubordination. 

."  Pelham  is  one  of  the  lambs  now/'  sneered  Tern- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    305 

plcton.     "  I'll  bet  Wilton  don't  come  back  with  any 
such  whimpering  as  that." 

Then  Mr.  McLaurin  wished  to  speak  to  the  boys, 
and  Pelham  did  not  lose  anything  by  the  enthusiasm 
of  this  gentleman.  Most  of  the  students  thought  more 
of  Pelham  than  ever  before,  though  his  boldness,  skill, 
and  address  had  always  made  him  a  favorite.  It  is 
probable  that  even  now  he  only  regarded  his  past  con 
duct  as  dishonorable,  rather  than  morally  wrong ;  and 
it  is  doubtful  whether  he  had  any  higher  principle  now 
than  before.  He  was  hardly  reformed,  as  Shuffles  had 
been.  His  brave  deed  had  elevated  his  standard,  and 
he  was  simply  ashamed  of  his  misconduct. 

It  had  been  arranged  that  the  students  should  walk 
to  Loch  Katrine,  a  distance  of  five  miles,  not  only 
because  they  preferred  to  do  so,  but  because  it  would 
afford  them  a  better  opportunity  to  examine  the  coun 
try.  Mr.  McLaurin  and  his  family  were  present  in 
his  carriage,  intending  to  accompany  the  party  through 
to  Edinburgh.  A  good  road  was  built  through  a  deso 
late  valley,  passing  near  Loch  Arklet.  An  occasional 
smoky-looking  hut  was  seen,  one  of  which  was  said 
to  be  the  birthplace  of  Helen  MacGregor,  Rob  Roy's 
Wife.  This  was  the  country  of  the  chieftain,  and  the 
party  turned  aside  from  the  new  road  to  visit  the  ruins 
of  In\  ersnaid  Fort,  built  to  check  the  operations  of 
the  MacGregors,  and  at  one  time  commanded  by  the 
'celebrated  General  Wolfe,  who  fell  at  Quebec. 

Paul    Kendall    gratified    his    curiosity  by  entering 
the  hut  of  a  Highlander.     It  was  rather  better  than 
an  Irish  hovel,  but  not  much.     The  scenery  in  the 
distance  was  grand  and  sublime. 
26* 


306  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  We  are  coming  to  Stronachlachar  Pier  now," 
said  Pelham  to  Paul,  as  they  obtained  their  first  view 
of  Loch  Katrine. 

"  What  a  name  !  "  laughed  Paul. 

"  Stronachlacher  is  quite  mild,  compared  with  some 
names  they  have  here  in  the  Highlands,"  replied  Pel- 
ham.  "  It  would  break  your  jaw  to  speak  them. 
Here  is  one,"  he  added,  giving  Paul  a  paper  on  which 
he  had  written  an  unpronounceable  name. 

"  Ard-ceen-a-chno-cain,"  said  Paul,  spelling  it  out. 
"  It  makes  my  teeth  crack  to  think  of  it ;  "  and  he 
handed  back  the  paper. 

The  party  descended  the  hill  to  the  pier,  at  which 
lay  a  very  small  steamer,  called  the  Rob  Roy.  She 
was  a  propeller,  with  clean  lines,  and  was  handsomely 
fitted  up.  She  had  just  arrived  from  the  Trosachs, 
and  made  her  return  trip  without  delay.  The  students 
hastened  on  board,  delighted  with  the  boat  and  with 
the  magnificent  scenery  of  this  wild  region.  The 
water  was  pure  and  clear,  and  the  mountains  only 
terminated  at  the  brink  of  the  lake. 

"  This  is  the  finest  sheet  of  water  in  Scotland, 
many  people  say,"  observed  Pelham  to  Paul.  "  The 
city  of  Glasgow  is  supplied  with  water  from  it." 

"  They  have  good  water  then,  I  should  judge  from 
the  looks  of  it,"  replied  Paul.  "  But  this  is  the  scene 
of  Scott's  poem,  The  Lady  of  the  Lake." 

"  Yes  ;  have  you  read  it?  " 

"  I  have ;  I  read  it  on  board  of  the  ship  since  we 
arrived  at  Greenock." 

"  The  localities  mentioned  in  the  poem  are  at  the 
other  end  of  the  lake ;  at  least  most  of  them  are." 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    30? 

The  students  were  divided  into  little  parties  on  vari 
ous  parts  of  the  deck,  viewing  the  shores  and  the  dis 
tant  mountains.  Mr.  McLaurin,  and  others  who  were 
familiar  with  the  locality,  were  busy  pointing  out  the 
various  objects  of  interest. 

"  There's  the  Goblin's  Cave,"  said  the  enthusiastic 
Scotchman,  as  he  pointed  to  a  deep  and  romantic  hol% 
low  under  the  crest  of  Ben  Venue.  "  You  should  visit 
'it,  lads ;  but  I  dare  say  you  haven't  the  time.  On  the 
other  side  is  Ellen's  Isle.  You  see  it's  a  steep  hill 
rising  out  of  the  lake,  and  covered  with  dense  foliage. 
The  poem  says,  — 

'  For  Douglas,  to  his  promise  true, 
That  morning  from  the  isle  withdrew, 
And  in  a  deep,  sequestered  dell 
He  sought  a  low  and  lonely  cell. 
By  many  a  bard,  in  Celtic  tongue, 
Has  Coir-nan-Uriskin  been  sung; 
A  softer  name  the  Saxon  gave, 
And  called  the  grot  the  Goblin  Cave.' 

Beyond  the  island  you  see  Ben  A'an,  and  off  in  the 
distance  is  Ben  Ledi." 

The  lake  was  now  quite  narrow,  and  completely 
shut  in  by  the  lofty  steeps  on  either  side.  After  a  run 
of  about  twelve  miles,  the  little  steamer  entered  a 
small  inlet,  with  lofty  crags  overhanging  it,  and  made 
fast  to  a  rude  pier. 

"  This  is  what  they  call  the  Trosachs,"  said  Pel- 
ham,  who  made  good  use  of  the  information  he  had 
obtained  by  imparting  it  to  others. 

"  It  is  a  very  wild  place,"  replied  Paul ;  "  but  I  sup 
pose  we  have  plenty  of  such  in  our  own  country." 


308  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Yes,  there  are  enough  of  them  among  the  Catskill 
and  the  White  Mountains.  Between  you  and  me, 
Paul,  there  is  a  good  deal  of  humbug  ahout  these 
places.  We  shouldn't  think  half  so  much  of  them 
if  they  were  at  home.  I  suppose  you  can  find  as  wild 
and  picturesque  scenery  along  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad."  . 

"  But  this  is  very  fine,  for  all  that.  Rob  Roy,  Rod 
erick  Dhu,  the  fair  Ellen,  Douglas,  and  others,  lend  a 
charm  to  these  scenes.  Where  do  we  go  next?" 

"  I  suppose  we  are  to  run  about  here  for  an  hour  or 
two,"  answered  Pelham. 

This  proved  to  be  the  programme,  and  for  a  time 
the  students  explored  the  mountain  recesses,  climbed 
the  steep  crags,  and  viewed  the  lofty  peaks,  but  work 
ing  their  way  all  the  time  towards  the  Trosachs 
Hotel  —  a  fine  building  erected  in  imitation  of  a 
castle.  At  this  point  they  found  a  procession  of 
stages,  or  rather  wagons,  on  which  they  were  to  be 
conveyed  ten  miles  to  Callender.  These  vehicles,  like 
those  which  ran  from  Inversnaid  to  Stronachlacher, 
were  huge  boxes  placed  between  the  wheels,  with  a 
door  at  the  rear  to  receive  the  luggage.  On  the  top 
of  this  box  were  seats,  placed  crosswise,  and  extend 
ing  out  over  the  wheels,  for  the  passengers. 

The  students  were  loaded  into  these  stages,  each  of 
which  was  drawn  by  four  horses.  On  the  front  seat, 
with  the  driver,  were  Dr.  Winstock,  Paul,  and  Pelham. 
Mr.  McLaurin  and  his  family  had  the  seat  behind 
them. 

"  On  your  right  is  Loch  Achray,"  said  Mr.  McLau 
rin.  "  It's  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water." 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    309 

"  It  isn't  much  of  a  lake,"  replied  Paul,  with  his 
usual  bluntness. 

"  It  is  not  as  large  as  Loch  Lomond,"  added  the 
Scotch  gentleman. 

"  Loch  Lomond  is  a  very  small  lake." 

"  We  in  Scotland  think  it  is  large." 

"  We  have  lakes  in  the  United  States  where  a 
steamer  goes  out  of  sight  of  land,"  added  Paul,  who 
could  not  help  occasionally  putting  in  a  word  in  favor 
of  his  own  country. 

"  But  I  dare  say  Lake  Superior  and  Lake  Erie  are 
not  so  fine  as  this  little  piece  of  a  loch  ;  at  least  you 
can't  see  all  their  beauties  at  a  glance.  A  small  dia 
mond  may  be  very  brilliant." 

"  Very  true,  sir  ;  but  we  have  some  beautiful  lakes 
in  our  country.  Lake  George  and  Lake  Winnepiseo- 
gee  are  hardly  excelled  in  beauty,  I  am  told,  by  any 
lakes  in  Europe,"  persisted  Paul.  "  We  should  call 
that  Loch  Achray  only  a  pond.  But  I  think  Scotland 
is  a  beautiful  country  ;  and  if  I  couldn't  live  in  the 
United  States,  I  think  it  would  be  my  next  choice." 

"  Thank  you  ;  that  is  very  handsome,"  laughed  Mr. 
McLaurin,  as  the  stage  drove  over  a  stone  bridge 
near  the  eastern  extremity  of  Loch  Achray.  "  This 
is  the  Brigg  of  Turk." 

"  What  does  it  mean,  sir?  Who  was  killed  on  the 
bridge?"  asked  Paul. 

"  No  one  ;  but  the  couplet  from  the  Lady  of  the 
Lake  is  quite  familiar  here  in  Scotland : 

'And  when  the  Brigg  of  Turk  was  won, 
The  headmost  horseman  rode  alone.' 

That's  all ;  and  the  horseman  was  a  mere  hunter,  who 


JIO  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

had  outstripped  his  companions  in  the  chase.  Her? 
is  Duncraggan,"  added  the  gentleman,  pointing  to  a 
few  low  cottages.  "  You  remember  the  fiery  cross,  in 
the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  with  which  the  clans  were  called 
to  the  service  of  their  leader.  The  messenger  gal 
loped  along  this  road. 

'  Spe"ed,  Malise,  speed !  the  lake  is  past, 
Duncraggan's  huts  appear  at  last, 
And  peep,  like  moss-grown  rocks,  half  seen, 
Half  hidden,  in  the  copse  so  green.' 

Indeed,  lads,  the  region  is  all  poetry  and  romance,  as 
well  as  history.  On  your  left  you  have  a  fine  view  of 
Ben  Ledi." 

"  What  does  that  mean,  Mr.  McLaurin  ?  "  asked 
the  curious  Paul.  "  Why  do  you  call  your  mountains 
Bens?  Is  it  short  for  Benjamin?  " 

"  No,  my  lad.  Ben  means  a  hill.  Ben  Ledi  is  a 
contraction  of  Ben-le-dia,  which  means  the  hill  of 
God.  It  is  reputed  that  heathen  rites  were  performed 
on  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  On  your  right  now 
is  Loch  Venachar.  As  it  is  only  five  miles  long  and 
a  mile  wide,  I  dare  say  our  friend  the  lieutenant  will 
not  consider  it  much  of  a  lake." 

"  A  mere  puddle,"  laughed  Paul.  "  But  I  must  say 
the  country  is  very  pleasant." 

"  On  the  other  side  of  Ben  Ledi  is  Loch  Lubnaig, 
which  we  call  a  fine  sheet  of  water ;  and  to  the  north 
of  that  is  Loch  Voil,  on  the  shore  of  which  is  Balqu- 
hidder,  where  Rob  Roy  was  buried." 

Mr.  McLaurin  continued  to  describe  the  country, 
and  to  mention  its  historical  and  romantic  features, 
until  the  procession  of  stages  drew  up  in  front  of  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    31* 

Dreadnought  Hotel  in  Callander.  The  stages  stopped 
but  a  moment,  apparently  from  the  force  of  habit,  and 
then  proceeded  to  the  rail  way  station,  at  which  the  ship's 
company  took  the  train  for  Stirling,  where  they  arrived 
after  a  ride  of  an  hour.  The  party  went  to  the  Royal 
Hotel,  and  after  a  hasty  lunch,  they  started  for  the 
castle,  which  is  the  chief  object  of  interest  in  the  city. 
Dinner  was  ordered  for  five  o'clock,  and  it  was  the 
intention  of  Mr.  Lowington  to  reach  Edinburgh  that 
evening,  as  accommodations  for  the  night  had  been 
engaged  there. 

In  its  physical  features,  Stirling,  like  Edinburgh,  is 
a  very  remarkable  place.  It  is  located  in  the  midst 
of  a  level  region,  upon  which  most  of  the  town  is 
built.  The  castle  is  situated  on  a  long  and  narrow 
hill,  approached  by  a  gradual  ascent  on  one  side, 
while  the  other  three  are  precipitous  steeps.  The 
castle  is  at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  hill,  and  its 
walls  are  on  the  verge  of  the  steep  cliff. 

The  party  followed  the  street  up  the  ascent  of  the 
hill,  and  as  this  is  the  oldest  portion  of  the  town,  the 
buildings  were  quaint  and  odd  compared  with  mod-, 
ern  structures.  In  front  of  the  principal  entrance  of 
the  castle  there  is  a  smoothly-gravelled  space,  used  as 
a  drilling  and  parade  ground  for  the  troops.  Most 
of  the  soldiers  were  dressed  in  the  ordinary  uniform 
or  fatigue  dress  of  the  British  army ;  but  a  portion  of 
them  were  Highlanders,  and  were  clothed  in  the  cos 
tume  of  the  country,  consisting  of  "  bare  legs  "  with 
tunic,  Scotch  cap  and  feathers,  with  a  profusion  of 
plaids.  The  dress  is  very  imposing,  and  the  boys  of 
the  Young  America  forgot  the  castle  for  a  time  ia 
observing  these  men. 


JI2  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

The  soldiers  not  on  duty  were  very  civil  to  the  vis 
itors,  and  several  of  them  offered  their  services  as 
guides.  They  were  engaged  in  sufficient  numbers  to 
give  all  the  information  the  party  required.  Professor 
Mapps  had  quite  as  much  to  say  as  the  guides,  be 
ginning  as  far  back  as  the  reign  of  Alexander  I.,  who 
died  in  the  castle.  In  1304,  it  held  out  for  three  months 
against  the  besieging  forces  of  Edward  I.,  -but  was 
finally  captured.  To  prevent  it  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  Robert  Bruce,  the  English  having  held  it  for 
ten  years,  Edward  II.  entered  Scotland  with  a  vast 
army,  and  was  defeated  on  the  eventful  field  of  Ban- 
nockburn,  which  can  be  viewed  from  the  walls  of  the 
fortress.  The  Stuarts  of  Scotland  used  it  as  a  royal 
residence.  James  II.  was  born  there  ;  James  V.  was 
born  and  crowned  there.  The  latter  was  the  father 
of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  and  when  he  died,  his  daugh 
ter,  though  only  a  few  days  old,  was  crowned  queen 
in  Stirling  Castle  ;  but  she  resided  in  the  palace  but 
a  short  time  before  she  was  sent  to  France  to  prevent 
her  capture  by  the  English. . 

From  the  esplanade,  the  party  crossed  the  draw 
bridge  over  the  outer  ditch,  into  a  space  walled  in  by 
storehouses  and  batteries,  and  passing  the  inner  ditch, 
entered  the  lower  square,  which  is  flanked  by  the 
palace  and  the  Parliament  House.  The  walls  of  the 
former,  built  by  James  V.,  are  covered  with  a  profusion 
of  ornamental  sculpture,  exceedingly  grotesque,  and, 
to  a  modern  taste,  tawdry  and  inappropriate.  The 
upper  square  is  flanked  by  the  palace,  the  Parliament 
House,  and  the  Chapel  Royal  on  three  sides,  and  by 
the  ramparts  on  the  fourth.  On  the  left  of  a  narrow 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IR ELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    313 

passage-way  is  a  low  building,  which  contains  the 
Douglas  Room,  the  chapel  being  on  the  opposite  side. 
This  apartment  is  one  of  the  greatest  celebrities  of 
the  castle,  for  in  it  was  perpetrated  a  deed  which  is 
full  of  historic  interest,  and  which  Mr.  Mapps  de 
scribed  in  detail. 

The  Earl  of  Douglas  was  a  powerful  noble,  who 
set  at  defiance  the  authority  of  law  and  the  king, 
and  was  guilty  of  the  most  oppressive  acts.  He  had 
entered  into  a  private  agreement  with  the  Earls  of 
Ross  and  Crawford  to  support  one  another  in  -all  feuds, 
even  against  their  sovereign.  The  king.  James  II., 
invited  him  to  a  conference  in  Stirling  Castle,  giving 
him  a  safe-conduct  as  security  for  his  personal  protec 
tion.  James  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  renounce 
his  compact  with  Ross  and  Crawford  ;  but  the  proud 
noble  positively  refused.  The  king,  out  of  patience 
and  roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  anger,  stabbed  him 
with  his  dagger,  exclaiming,  "  If  thou  wilt  not  break 
the  bond,  this  shall!"  The  nobles  in  attendance  hated 
Douglas  as  heartily  as  did  the  king,  and  completed 
the  work  he  had  begun.  The  body  of  the  murdered 
earl  was  thrown  out  of  the  window,  which  was  pointed, 
out  to  the  students  by  the  Highland  soldier,  into  the 
garden  below.  The  body  was  supposed  to  have  been 
buried  near  the  spot  where  it  fell.  Three  hundred 
and  fifty  years  afterwards  a  human  skeleton  was  found 
a  few  yards  from  the  window,  which  was  believed  to 
be  the  remains  of  Douglas. 

The  Highlanders  who  acted  as  guides  had  the  his 
tory  of  the  castle  and  its  occupants  at  their  tongues' 
ends,  and  rehearsed  it  with  great  glibness,  though 
27 


314  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

some  of  the  boys  occasionally  interrupted  the  current 
of  the  chronicles  by  asking  the  speakers  if  their  legs 
were  not  cold  in  the  winter,  or  what  the  emblems  and 
ornaments  upon  their  persons  meant.  On  the  cap 
of  each  of  these  men  was  a  metallic  thistle,  which 
brought  the  national  emblem  of  Scotland  under  dis 
cussion. 

"  The  order  of  the  Thistle,"  said  Professor  Mapps, 
•when  a  soldier  had  told  all  he  knew  about  it,  "  is  said 
to  have  been  instituted  by  Achaius,  King  of  Scots.  On 
the  night  before  he  gained  a  great  victory  over  the 
King  of  England,  he  pretended  to  have  seen  a  bright 
cross  in  the  heavens.  It  was  oblique  in  form,  like 
that  on  which  the  apostle  St.  Andrew  suffered  mar 
tyrdom.  The  emblems  of  the  Knights  of  the  Thistle 
are  the  thistle  and  the  St.  Andrew's  cross.  I  do  not 
know  the  original  significance  of  the  thistle,  but  the 
flower  and  the  motto  are  singularly  appropriate  and 
harmonious,  —  '  NEMO  ME  IMPUNE  I.ACESSET  '  —  No 
body  shall  provoke  me  with  impunity.  The  character 
of  the  Scotch  people  could  not  be  better  described  in 
a  whole  volume." 

Leaving  this  interesting  historical  spot,  the  ship's 
company  went  out  upon  the  ramparts,  which  com 
manded  a  magnificent  view  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
trv,  including  the  lofty  peaks  of  Ben  Venue,  Ben 
A'an,  Ben  Ledi,  and  other  noted  mountains  in  the 
Highlands.  Following  the  wall,  they  came  to  "  Queen 
Victoria's  Lookout,"  where  her  majesty,  on  a  recent 
visit,  sat  down  to  observe  the  fine  prospect.  Near  it 
was  Queen  Mary's  Lookout ;  and  in  the  rear  of  the 
palace,  the  Ladies'  Lookout,  where  the  court  in  an- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    31*) 

cient  days  looked  out  upon  the  country  around  the 
castle.  The  soldier  also  pointed  out  the  battle-grounds 
of  Stirling  and  Bannockburn. 

The  castle  was  more  interesting  to  the  students  than 
any  similar  structure  they  had  yet  visited.  It  was  still 
a  garrisoned  stronghold,  and  the  batteries  in  various 
parts  of  the  works  bristled  with  cannon.  Leaving 
the  castle,  the  party  visited  the  cemetery,  the  Ladies' 
Rock,  from  which  the  ladies  of  the  court  surveyed 
the  knightly  feats  of  arms  performed  by  their  admir 
ers  on  the  broad  plain  below.  A  glance  at  Grayfriar's 
Church,  built  by  James  IV.,  was  enough  to  satisfy 
them.  In  the  cemetery  were  statues  of  Henderson, 
Erskine,  Knox,  and  other  religious  reformers,  the  lat 
ter  of  whom  used  to  lecture  Queen  Mary  for  her  French 
follies,  and  especially  for  her  dancing  and  music,  which 
he  declared  were  the  works  of  the  devil. 

The  visitors  were  conducted  to  the  plain  where  the 
tournaments  were  held  in  the  .days  of  the  Jameses. 
The  rock  on  which  the  castle  is  situated  rises  ab 
ruptly  from  the  plain  to  a  height  of  more  than  two 
hundred  feet.  While  the  students  were  gazing  up  at 
the  lofty  heights  and  the  frowning-  battlements,  a  car 
riage  stopped  in  the  road  near  them,  and  a  couple  of 
gentlemen,  alighting  from  it,  approached  the  spot. 
One  of  them  greeted  Mr.  McLaurin  and  his  family, 
and  was  immediately  introduced  to  Mr.  Lowington 
as  the  Mayor  of  Stirling. 

"  I  regret  very  much  that  I  did  not  find  you  before, 
sir,"  said  his  worship.  "  I  have  been  laboring  to  be 
civil  to  our  welcome  visitors,  and  I  beg  to  extend  to 
you  the  hospitalities  of  our  town." 


316  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  In.bchalf  of  the  students  of  our  ship  I  thank  you, 
Mr.  Mayor,"  replied  Mr.  Lovvington.  "  I  had  no  in 
tention  of  intruding  upon  the  notice  of  the  municipal 
authorities  of  Stirling." 

"  We  are  happy  to  see  you  and  your  ship's  com 
pany,  and  to  extend  to  you  all  a  cordial  Scottish  wel 
come.  I  went  to  the  hotel  when  I  heard  of  your 
arrival,  communicated  to  me  in  a  note  from  my  friend 
Mr.  McLaurin.  I  beg  the  privilege  of  extending  to 
you  an  invitation  to  dine  with  me." 

Mr.  Lowington  explained  that  he  had  ordered  din 
ner  for  his  party ;  but  the  hospitable  mayor  informed 
him  that  he  had  taken  the  liberty  to  usurp  the  charge 
of  the  dinner  at  the  hotel,  and  to  countermand  the 
principal's  order.  Then  mounting  a  rock,  he  ad 
dressed  the  professors  and  the  students,  welcoming 
them  to  the  town,  and  extending  to  them  the  hospi 
talities  of  the  place. 

"  Mr.  Mayor,  allow  me  to  introduce  Captain  Gor 
don,  commander  of  the  ship  Young  America,"  added 
the  principal. 

The  mayor  took  his  hand  ;  Captain  Gordon  mounted 
the  rock,  and  removing  his  cap,  proceeded  to  indulge 
in  the  American  luxury  of  speech-making.  He  ad 
dressed  his  worship  in  the  most  eloquent  terms,  and 
his  speech  would  have  done  credit  to  a  member  of 
Congress.  He  thanked  him  for  his  courtesy,  and  ex 
pressed  the  pleasure  the  company  had  derived  from 
visiting  Scotland,  alluded  to  the  Scotchmen  in  the 
United  States  as  earnest,  industrious  men,  and  useful 
citizens,  and  assured  him  that  the  party  would  long 
hold  in  pleasant  remembrance  their  visit  to  the  an- 


tfu- 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    317 

cicnt  city  of  Stirling.  "  In  conclusion,  shipmates," 
he  added,  "  I  propose  three  cheers  for  the  Mayor  of 
Stirling." 

The  captain  called  one,  two.  and  three,  swinging 
his  cap,  as  each  cheer  was  poured  out  with  a  force 
that  seemed  to  shake  the  castle  on  its  firm  foundation. 
His  worship  gracefully  acknowledged  the  compliment, 
and  dismissing  the  carriage,  walked  with  the  party  to 
the  field  of  Bannockburn.  on  which  there  was  noth 
ing  particular  to  be  seen,  except  the  "bone-stone," 
whereon  the  standard  of  Scotland  is  said  to  have 
been  elevated,  though  the  mayor  explained  the  posi 
tions  of  the  opposing  armies. 

When  the  ship's  company  reached  the  hotel,  Mr. 
Fluxion,  who  had  come  direct  from  Glasgow  by  rail 
way,  was  awaiting  them.  He  reported  to  Mr.  Low- 
ington  that  his  prisoner  had  been  safely  committed  to 
the  brig,  and  left  in  charge  of  the  boatswain.  On  his 
return,  the  professor  had  called  on  the  father  of  the 
young  reprobate.  The  young  man  had  given  his 
father  a  great  deal  of  trouble  by  his  wayward  conduct, 
and  he  was  entirely  willing  that  the  discipline  of  the 
ship  should  be  enforced  so  far  as  his  son  was  con 
cerned. 

Mr.  Fluxion  delivered  several  letters  to  the  princu 
pal,  which  had  been  sent  to  the  ship.  One  of  them 
seamed  to  afford  him  a  great  deal  of  satisfaction,  and 
it  was  soon  evident  to  those  around  him  that  he  had 
something  he  wished  to  say. 

"  Young  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  I  have  the  pleasure 
of  informing  you  that  the  Josephine  has  arrived  at 
Liverpool." 

27* 


31 8  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,   OI? 

"  The  Josephine  !  "  exclaimed  Paul  Kendall,  who 
had  never  heard  of  any  such  vessel. 

"What's  the  Josephine,  sir?"  asked  Captain  Gordon. 

"  She  is  the  neatest  little  topsail  schooner  that 
ever  was  built,"  replied  Mr.  Lowington,  unbending 
from  his  dignity  more  than  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
doing. 

"  I  never  heard  of  her,"  added  Paul. 

"  Nor  I,"  said  the  captain. 

"  She  is  to  be  the  consort  of  the  Young  America.  I 
«aw  her  hull  before  we  sailed  from  Brockway,  and 
a  more  beautiful  model  never  floated  on  salt  water." 

"  I  don't  understand  what  she  is  for,"  continued 
Paul.  "  I  supposed  she  was  named  after  Josey  Mar- 
tyn,  your  niece." 

"  She  was  named  after  my  niece.  Many  of  you  are 
aware  that  there  have  been  more  applications  for 
berths  on  board  the  ship  than  I  could  accept.  There 
were  over  twenty  young  men  waiting  for  vacancies 
when  I  left  the  United  States.  To  accommodate  them, 
as  well  as  to  carry  out  certain  other  plans  of  my  own, 
I  had  the  Josephine  built.  She  is  a  vessel  of  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty  tons,  and  Captain  Bean,  who  came  out 
in  her,  informs  me  in  this  letter  that  he  made  the  pas 
sage  from  Boston  to  Liverpool  in  eighteen  days,  and 
that  she  frequently  logged  thirteen  knots.  When  we 
arrive  at  Liverpool,  where  the  Josephine  will  wait  for 
us,  I  shall  put  her  in  commission." 

"  Have  the  new  scholars  come  over?"  asked  Cap 
tain  Gordon. 

"  No  ;  but  they  will  arrive  by  steamer  early  in  July,* 
replied  the  principal. 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    319 

"  Will  the  new  hands  go  into  the  Josephine?"  in 
quired  Paul. 

"  They  will  not ;  she  will  be  handled  by  old  sailors. 
Her  officers  will  be  appointed  by  the  merit  roll  of  the 
ship  from  our  present  students.  But  we  will  let  this 
matter  rest  till  we  reach  Liverpool." 

Here  was  a  new  sensation,  and  those  who  had  heard 
Mr.  Lowington's  statements  immediately  communi 
cated  them  to  the  rest  of  the  crew.  The  excitement 
for  a  time  was  intense,  and  the  boys  did  not  cease  to 
wonder  to  what  uses  the  Josephine  would  be  applied. 
They  talked  about  independent  cruises  in  her ;  they 
canvassed  the  merits  of  the  various  officers,  indulged 
in  many  speculations  in  regard  to  her  future  com 
mander  ;  and  some  declared  they  would  rather  be  cap 
tain  of  the  Josephine  than  of  the  Young  America. 

The  extra  preparations  required  to  make  the  dinner 
worthy  the  hospitality  of  the  Mayor  of  Stirling  in 
volved  a  delay  of  an  hour  ;  but  at  six  o'clock  the  ship's 
company  sat  down  at  the  tables,  with  the  principal 
officers  of  the  city.  The  dinner  was  as  elaborate  as 
mine  host  of  the  Royal  Hotel  could  make  it  in  the 
short  time  given  him,  and  the  hungry  young  tars  did 
ample  justice  to  the  viands.  The  mayor,  the  princi 
pal,  the  professors,  and  the  eminent  citizens,  made 
pleasant  speeches,  and  half  a  dozen  of  the  juvenile 
members  of  the  party  declaimed  in  "  spread-eagle  " 
style. 

His  worship  expressed  his  regret  that  the  company 
could  not  remain  another  day,  and  the  students  formed 
in  column  to  march  to  the  station  at  eight  o'clock. 
They  were  attended  by  the  municipal  officers,  to 


32O  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

whom  they  gave  three  cheers  as  the  parting  words 
were  spoken.  At  half  past  eight  the  train  departed, 
and  in  an  hour  and  three  quarters  they  were  in  the 
capital  of  Scotland,  where  they  lodged  at  a  hotel  en 
Princes  Street. 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    32! 


CHAPTER  XX. 

PAUL    KENDALL   IN   EDINBURGH. 

THE  students  were  up  at  an  early  hour  in  the 
morning,  exploring  the  streets  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  hotel,  for  they  were  in  a  hurry  to  know  what 
Edinburgh  looked  like.  Paul  Kendall  was  one  of  the 
first  to  leave  his  bed,  moved  by  a  laudable  curiosity  to 
see  the  lions  of  this  noted  city.  When  the  ship's  com 
pany  returned  to  Greenock,  the  second  lieutenant  em 
ployed  all  his  leisure  time  for  several  days  in  writing 
a  letter  to  Miss  Grace  Arbuckle,  which  contained  a 
full  account  of  his  experience  in  Edinburgh.  As  this 
young  gentleman  had  excellent  taste  and  judgment,  his 
letter  shall  take  the  place  in  this  chapter  of  a  more 
formal  description  of  the  city. 

"  DEAR  Miss  GRACE  ARBUCKLE  : 

"  I  remember  that  you  told  me  you  had  never  been 
in  Edinburgh,  and  for  this  reason  I  am  going  to  tell 
you  all  about  the  city,  just  as  I  wrote  it  down  in  my 
diary.  I  don't  pretend  to  be  a  philosopher,  or  anything 
of  that  sort,  though  I  have  some  Yankee  notions  of  my 
own. 

"  The  ship's  company  arrived  with  Mr.  McLaurin 
and  family  at  ten  o'clock  last  evening — that  was 


32.1  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

Thursday;  and  we  marched  up,  two  by  two,  to  thd 
Edinburgh  Hotel,  in  Princes  Street.  It  was  pitch* 
dark  when  we  got  in,  and  I  couldn't  see  a  thing ;  but 
this  morning  I  turned  out  —  that's  the  sailor  lingo  for 
getting  out  of  bed  —  and  rushed  down  into  the  street. 
I  took  my  stand  on  the  sidewalk  in  front  of  the  hotel, 
and  stared  around  me  like  '  one  from  the  country ' ;  and 
as  you  were  never  in  Edinburgh  yourself,  you  must 
take  my  word  for  it,  that  it  is  the  oddest,  strangest, 
queerest,  funniest  made  up  place  that  ever  was  invented. 

"  Directly  in  front  of  me,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
street,  was  a  magnificent  monument  to  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  and  beyond  this  were  the  Princes  Street  Gar 
dens  ;  and  beyond  them  was  the  castle,  on  a  high  hill 
which  is  just  like  that  on  which  Stirling  Castle  stands  ; 
that  is,  it  is  a  steep  precipice  on  three  sides.  Between 
the  castle  and  the  street,  where  the  gardens  are  now, 
there  used  to  be  a  'loch,'  —  they  call  every  puddle  a 
loch  here  in  Scotland,  —  which  has  been  filled  up,  and 
the  town  very  much  improved.  The  railroad  runs 
through  this  hollow  now. 

"  This  was  the  first  sight  I  had  of  the  town.  On  the 
side  of  the  hill  from  the  castle  the  buildings  were  very 
high  ;  if  I  counted  right,  one  of  them  was  thirteen  sto 
ries  high,  though  I  found,  when  I  went  up  the  hill, 
that  they  were  only  four  or  five  on  the  other  side. 
The  old  town  is  built  on  the  hill,  and  the  new  one 
all  around  it.  I  should  think  the  Edinburghers  would 
be  in  danger  of  tumbling  off  some  of  the  high  places, 
for  parts  of  the  city,  it  seemed  to  me,  were  built  right 
over  other  parts.  I  think  the  attic"  of  some  houses 
must  be  the  down-cellar  of  others,  for  I  am  confident 


YOUNG  AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    323 

many  of  the  buildings  rest  on  the  tops  of  others. 
It  wouldn't  be  a  good  place  to  have  earthquakes  in, 
and  I  hope  they  won't  have  any. 

"  As  you  must  be,  like  all  young  ladies,  passionately 
fond  of  statistics,  I  ought  to  tell  you  that  the  city  is 
about  two  miles  long  and  two  miles  wide,  and  contains 
about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand  inhab 
itants.  You  would  not  forgive  me  if  I  forgot  to  men 
tion  these  important  facts. 

"I  stood  in  the  street  for  ten  minutes  —  I  never 
stand  still  longer  than  that,  except  at  recitation  — 
looking  at  the  place.  I  can't  give  you  any  idea  of 
it,  and  I  have  a  great  mind  to  tear  out  the  pictures  in 
my  guide-book  and  send  them  to  you  ;  but  I  hope  to 
see  you  again  some  time,  —  I  really  hope  so,  —  and 
then  I  will  show  them  to  you.  Just  as  soon  as  I  got 
an  idea,  as  Major  Rogers  would  say,  of  the  place,  I 
rushed  across  the  street  to  the  Scott  monument,  which 
is  two  hundred  feet  high,  and  the  tallest  thing  of  the 
kind  I  ever  saw.  It  is  a  splendid  Gothic  tower,  con 
taining  a  statue  of  Sir  Walter  in  a  sitting  posture, 
with  gingerbread  work  enough  on  it  to  make  it  cost 
heaps  of  money  —  nearly  sixteen  thousand  pounds  — 
I  call  it  eighty  thousand  dollars  in  my  journal  which 
is  for  my  mother  to  read,  and  I  am  not  sure  she  knows 
that  a  pound,  at  $4.44^,  with  exchange  added,  makes 
it  worth  about  five  dollars.  A  staircase,  consisting 
of  two  hundred  and  eighty  steps,  leads  to  the  top  of 
it,  from  which  they  say  there  is  a  fine  view  ;  but  I  was 
too  lazy  to  climb  up. 

"  I  walked  about  the  streets  till  breakfast  time,  and 
made  up  my  mind  that  Edinburgh  was  the  finest  city 


324  SHAMROCK   AND   THISTLE,    OR 

I  had  seen  on  this  side  of  the  ocean.  It  is  full  of  mon 
uments  and  statues  to  all  the  kings  and  great  men. 
I  believe  when  a  royal  individual  visits  a  city,  the  peo 
ple  straightway  set  up  a  statue  of  him  ;  and  a  fellow 
can  hardly  turn  round  in  Edinburgh  without  being  in 
danger  of  knocking  one  of  them  over,  /didn't  knock 
any  over. 

"  After  breakfast  I  heard  Mr.  Lowington  —  I  always 
take  my  cap  off  when  I  mention  that  name,  if  I  hap 
pen  to  have  it  on,  for  he  is  as  much  bigger  man  than 
George  III.  as  the  Scott  monument  is  higher  than 
Rob  Roy's  gravestone  —  I  heard  Mr.  Lowington  beg' 
ging  Mr.  McLaurin  not  to  write  any  notes,  or  say 
anything  to  any  mayors,  lords,  or  dukes,  for  public 
dinners  and  receptions  are  an  awful  bore  to  him.  The 
landlord  of  the  hotel  then  drummed  together  a  quarter 
of  a  hundred  one-horse  barouches,  into  which  the 
ship's  company  loaded  themselves  ;  and  of  course  all 
the  Scotchmen  stared  at  us  as  we  strung  through  the 
streets. 

"  We  went  first  to  Holyrood.  Of  course  you  know 
that  this  was  the  royal  palace  of  the  Scottish  kings, 
and  that  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  lived  here.  Professor 
Mapps  gave  us  a  jolly  long  lecture  about  the  palace 
and  the  abbey,  and  about  Mary.  I  used  to  think  she 
was  a  very  nice  woman,  handsome,  affectionate,  and 
everything  a  lady  ought  to  be  ;  and  I  used  to  pity  her 
for  the  troubles  and  misfortunes  that  came  to  her ;  but 
I  have  altered  my  mind.  I  think  she  was  a  wicked 
woman,  and  I  am  glad  she  wasn't  my  grandmother. 
I  couldn't  help  thinking  once  that  her  son  James,  who 
became  king  of  England,  was  an  unnatural  monster, 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.     325 

because  he  didn't  make  a  bigger  row  when  his  mother 
was  beheaded  by  Queen  Elizabeth's  order  ;  but  I  have 
since  concluded  that  he  acted  the  wisest  part,  for  the 
least  said  was  soonest  mended.  You  will  excuse  me 
if  you  think  I  am  an  image-breaker,  but  I  shouldn't 
want  such  a  -woman  as  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  to  sew 
the  buttons  on  my  shirts. 

"  We  went  into  the  palace,  and  Mr.  Lowington  paid 
the  everlasting  sixpence  without  grumbling.  I  sup 
pose  a  lawyer  here  would  charge  you  sixpence  for  the 
privilege  of  reading  his  sign.  The  building  is  in  the 
form  of  a  quadrangle,  with  towers  at  the  corners, 
whose  tops  look  like  inverted  tops,  though  I  suppose 
they  are  right  side  up.  We  went  in,  and  up  stairs  to 
a  long,  narrow  room,  which  looked  as  musty  as  the 
attic  of  a  country  tavern.  It  was  the  picture  gallery, 
and  its  walls  were  covered  with  portraits  of  the  kings 
of  Scotland,  real  and  imaginary,  some  of  whom 
reigned  four  hundred  years  before  the  Christian  era 
—  the  latter,  I  suppose,  painted  from  photographs 
taken  by  Edinburgh  artists. 

"  I  did  not  feel  much  interest  in  the  old  gentlemen 
whose  faces  looked  down  upon  me  from  the  walls, 
though  I  did  glance  at  a  few  of  them,  whose  biographies 
I  had  read.  We  went  through  a  lot  of  state  apartments, 
and  into  Lord  Darnley's  rooms.  In  some  of  them  there 
were  pieces  of  ancient  tapestry,  upon  which  a  great 
deal  of  needlework  had  been  done.  I  suppose  a  lady 
could  appreciate  them,  but  I  could  not.  When  I  went 
into  Darnley's  rooms,  I  could  not  help  wondering  how 
Mary  happened  to  marry  such  a  ninny,  for  he  was 
as  wicked  as  he  was  vain  and  stupid,  and  I  am  not 
28 


326  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

surprised  that  she  wanted  to  get  rid  of. him,  horrid  as 
were  the  means  to  which  she  probably  consented. 

"  When  we  came  to  the  apartments  of  Queen  Mary, 
I  was  really  interested.  The  first  was  her  audience 
chamber.  The  roof  is  panelled,  and  the  walls  are 
hung  with  tapestry.  There  is  a  bed  in  it  in  which 
Charles  I.  slept  while  he  resided  at  Holyrood.  In  this 
chamber  John  Knox  used  to  scold  Mary  for  being  so 
vain.  I  don't  think  much  of  J.  Knox,  and  I  am  not 
surprised  that  he  didn't  make  a  better  woman  of 
Mary. 

"  The  next  apartment  was  Queen  Mary's  room, 
and  contains  the  bed  in  which  she  used  to  sleep ; 
at  least  they  say  it  is,  but  I  doubt  whether  the  peo 
ple  of  Edinburgh,  who  keep  their  eyes  open,  believe  it. 
The  hangings  of  the  bed  were  of  crimson  damask 
once,  with  green  fringes  and  tassels,  but  they  are 
faded  and  half  decayed  now.  Leading  out  of  this 
room  were  the  queen's  dressing  and  supping  rooms, 
and  half  hidden  under  the  tapestry  is  the  door  opening 
to  the  private  stairs  by  which  Darnley  and  his  com 
panions  came  up  to  murder  Rizzio,  the  secretary  of 
her  majesty. 

"  The  room  in  which  Mary  was  taking  her  supper 
with  two  or  three  friends  when  the  assassins  entered, 
is  very  small,  and  is  contained  within  one  of  the  tur 
rets.  In  this  room  Darnley's  party  stabbed  the  secre 
tary,  who  crouched  behind  Mary  for  protection.  She 
was  quite  spunky,  and  forcibly  resisted  Darnley,  who 
dragged  Rizzio  from  behind  her.  They  upset  the  ta 
ble,  and  had  an  awful  time ;  but  the  poor  secretary 
was  pulled  out  of  the  room  through  the  bed-room,  the 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    327 

rascals  stabbing  him  all  the  way  into  the  audience 
chamber,  where  he  fell  dead  on  the  floor.  The  ex 
act  spot  where  he  dropped  was  identified  by  marks  of 
blood,  which  they  say  are  still  visible,  but  I  '  couldn't 
see  it.' 

"  So  far  as  Darnley  was  concerned,  he  was  paid 
back  in  his  own  coin.  He  was  blown  up  with  pow 
der  in  a  house  where  he  lay  sick,  and  if  his  wife  was 
not  a  party  to  his  murder,  she  was  just  as  bad  as  that, 
or  she  wouldn't  have  married  the  man  that  did  kill 
him.  Bothwell  was  a  bad  man,  and  died  in  a  dun 
geon,  and  then  Mary  was  beheaded  herself,  so  that 
justice  seems  to  have  been  done  to  all  of  them. 

"  From  the  palace  we  went  into  the  ruins  of  Holy- 
rood  Abbey,  and  read  the  tablets  on  the  ground  which 
marked  the  last  resting-place  of  some  of  the  kings, 
queens,  and  nobility  of  Scotland.  Darnley  was  buried 
in  the  royal  vault,  and  Rizzio  in  a  passage  leading 
from  the  quadrangle. 

"  When  we  had  seen  the  palace  and  the  abbey,  we 
took  seats  in  the  carriages  again,  and  by  the  fine  road 
called  The  Queen's  Drive,  went  to  the  top  of  Arthur's 
Seat,  which  is  a  hill  about  eight  hundred  feet  high, 
where  we  obtained  a  good  view  of  the  city  and  the  sur 
rounding  country.  We  drove  along  at  the  foot  of 
Salisbury  Crags,  where  Sir  Walter  Scott  used  to  take 
his  walks  when  he  was  thinking  up  a  subject  for  a 
book. 

"  Coming  down  from  Arthur's  Seat,  we  went  to  Cai- 
ton  Hill,  where  we  saw  the  beginning  of  the  national 
monument  to  the  Scottish  heroes  of  Waterloo,  unfin 
ished  because  the  funds  fell  short ;  Nelson's  monu- 


328  SHAMROCK    ANT>    THISTLE,    OR 

merit  (admission  30!. !),  from  which  a  ball  is  dropped 
every  day  at  one  o'clock,  Greenwich  time  ;  and  a  monu 
ment  to  Dugald  Stewart,  and  another  to  Playfair,  — 
which  seemed  more  familiar  to  me  than  anything  else, 
because  I  have  studied  Playfair's  Euclid. 

"  We  drove  through  the  Canongate  and  the  High 
Street,  stopping  on  the  way  at  the  John  Knox  house, 
visiting  his  sitting-room,  bed-room,  and  study.  It  was 
quite  interesting  to  me  as  a  specimen  of  an  old  house, 
rather  than  from  its  association  with  the  savage  re 
former.  We  passed  the  Canongate  Tolbooth,  or  court 
house,  with  a  spire,  little  turrets,  and  a  clock  project 
ing  out  into  the  street,  supported  by  brackets.  It  is 
a  very  odd-looking  building,  and  showed  us  wrhat  Edin 
burgh  was  in  1591. 

"  At  the  head  of  the  street  we  came  to  the  espla 
nade  in  front  of  the  castle,  where  there  is  a  monument 
to  the  Highlanders  who  fell  in  India,  and  a  statue  to 
the  Duke  of  York  and  Albany.  Crossing  the  moat 
on  a  drawbridge,  we  were  shown  the  state  prison 
Where  the  adherents  of  the  Stuarts  were  confined 
before  their  trial  and  execution.  Passing  into  the 
palace-yard,  we  entered  the  crown-room,  Mr.  McLau- 
rin  having  obtained  an  order  for  our  admission.  The 
crown,  sceptre,  and  sword  were  in  an  iron  cage,  in  a 
dark  room  lighted  with  gas. 

"  After  the  murder  of  Rizzio  at  Holyrood,  Queen 
Mary  went  to  Edinburgh  Castle  for  safety ;  and  here 
her  son,  James  VI.  of  Scotland,  or  James  I.  of  Eng 
land,  was  born.  We  were  admitted  to  the  room  where 
his  majesty  first  saw  the  light,  though  it  was  a  very 
small  and  mean  apartment  for  a  queen.  There  are 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    329 

initials  and  inscriptions  on  the  wall  to  commemorate 
the  event.  When  the  young  king  was  only.eight  thvys 
old,  he  was  let  down  in  a  basket,  two  hundred  and 
•5fty  feet,  to  some  friends  below,  who  took  him  to  Stir 
ling  to  receive  Catholic  baptism.  Of  course  the  baby 
lay  still,  or  there  would  have  been  no  King  James  to 
follow  Elizabeth. 

"  We  went  to  Queen  Margaret's  Chapel,  which  is 
said  to  be  the  oldest  in  Scotland,  and  roamed  round 
among  batteries,  magazines,  and  prisons,  till  we  could 
not  tell  north  from  south.  On  the  Bomb  Battery  is 
an  immense  gun,  called  Mons  Meg.  The  bore  is 
twenty  inches,  and  it  is  hooped  like  a  barrel.  An 
inscription  on  the  carriage  says  it  was  used  at  the 
siege  of  Norham  Castle  in  1513.  It  was  kept  in  the 
Tower  of  London  for  a  time,  and  finally  restored  to 
this  castle. 

"  From  the  battlements  of  the  castle  we  look  down 
hundreds  of  feet  into  the  streets  below,  and  the  rock 
in  some  places  is  perpendicular.  The  guns  point  in 
every  direction,  and  it  seems  to  me  it  would  not  be 
convenient  for  the  city  of  Edinburgh  to  rebel  against 
the  government.  The  place  is  garrisoned  by  High 
landers,  and  we  saw  a  parade  of  them  on  the  espla 
nade  as  we  went  out. 

"  Our  procession  of  teams  next  went  down  into  the 
Grassmarket,  which  is  a  wide  street  or  square.  Our 
driver  pointed  out  the  spot  where  public  executions 
used  to  take  place,  and  where  the  Covenanters  were 
burned,  which  is  marked  in  the  pavement.  From  this 
point  we  drove  through  the  Cowgate,  which  is  inhab 
ited  by  the  lowest  and  dirtiest  class  of  people  in  the 
28* 


330  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

city ;  but  right  above  you  there  is  another  city,  for 
the  Cowgate  passes  under  a  bridge  fifty  feet  high, 
across  which  extends  one  of  the  principal  streets. 
There  are  several  of  these  bridges,  and  the  passenger 
actually  looks  down  upon  the  '  low  life  '  of  the  city. 

"  After  we  had  taken  a  lunch,  we  visited  several 
cemeteries,  —  The  Grange,  Grayfriars,  Dean,  —  and 
saw  the  graves  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  Hugh  Miller,  Lord 
Jeffrey,  Christopher  North,  and  others. 

"After  dinner  I  walked  up  Princes  Street,  with 
Pelham,  —  he  was  not  with  us  in  Belfast,  —  to  St. 
John's  Chapel,  connected  with  which  is  an  old  ceme 
tery.  We  found  the  grave  of  DeQtiincey,  the  opium- 
eater.  I  observed  the  same  peculiarity  in  the  epitaphs 
which  I  had  noticed  at  The  Grange  and  other  burial- 
places.  They  are  very  particular  to  put  the  occupa 
tion  of  the  'deceased  upon  his  tombstone;  as,  '  Here 
lie  the  mortal  remains  of  John  McDougal,  Plumber 
in  Edinburgh  ; '  and  '  Nineteen  feet  south-east  of  this 
stone  repose  the  remains  of  Mrs.  Jennie  McFarland, 
wife  of  Alexander  McFarland,  Bookbinder  in  Edin 
burgh.' 

"  On  the  whole,  I  like  Edinburgh  very  much  in" 
deed ;  but  one  ought  to  stay  here  a  week  in  order  to 
see  and  understand  the  place.  The  next  day  we  took 
a  train  and  went  to  Melrose,  visiting  Abbotsford,  the 
residence  of  Sir  Walter  Scott.  I  was  really  thrilled 
by  the  thought  that  I  stood  in  the  house  of  the  author" 
of  Ivanhoe.  In  one  of  the  readers  I  used  at  school 
there  was  an  account  of  Scott's  last  days,  and  the 
localities'  were  very  familiar  to  me  by  name.  We 
Walked  through  the  rooms  where  he  ate,  slept,  studied, 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN   IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    33! 

rind  wrote.  His  library  is  a  large  room,  sixty  by  fifty  ; 
has  a  carved  oak  ceiling,  and  contains  twenty  thousand 
volumes.  A  door  leads  from  it  into  the  study,  where 
most  of  his  books  were  written.  The  writing  tables 
at  which  he  worked,  and  the  arm-chair,  covered  with 
black  leather,  in  which  he  sat,  are  still  there.  In  a 
little  room  there  is  a  glass  case,  under  which  are  seen 
the  clothing  Sir  Walter  wore  just  before  he  died. 
The  hall  and  the  armory  are  hung  with  stags'  horns 
and  all  kinds  of  weapons. 

"  After  we  had  visited  Melrose  Abbey  and  Dry- 
burgh  Abbey,  we  returned  to  Greenock  direct  by  the 
way  of  Peebles  and  Glasgow.  We  have  had  a  splen-- 
did  tkne,  and  have  seen  a  great  deal  of  Scotland.  I 
like  the  country  very  much  indeed,  better  than  I  do 
Ireland,  —  or  at  least  better  than  any  part  except  Bel 
fast, —  for  I  don't  think  I  ever  enjoyed  myself  any 
where  so  much  as  I  did  while  in  your  city.  I  hear 
that  we  sail  for  Oban  on  Monday,  and  that  from  there, 
after  we  have  had  a  run  through  the  Caledonian  Canal, 
we  go  to  Staffa  and  the  Island  of  Skye.  If  we  do, 
I  will  tell  you  all  about  it. 

"  I  almost  forgot  to  say  that  the  Young  America  is 
to  have  a  consort  after  we  arrive  at  Liverpool,  for  the 
topsail  schooner  Josephine,  built  for  a  branch  of  our 
Academy,  is  waiting  for  us  there.  Mr.  Lowington 
says  she  is  a  splendid  little  vessel,  fitted  up  something 
like  the  ship.  We  are  to  have  twenty  or  thirty  new 
scholars ;  but  the  old  sailors,  like  me,  are  to  go  in  the 
Josephine.  Just  now  we  are  all  wondering  who  will 
be  her  commander,  and  some  of  us  in  the  after-cabin 
would  rather  be  captain  of  her  than  of  the  ship. 


332  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  I  hope  I  shall  not  fail  to  see  you  when  you  are 
in  England  this  summer,  for  I  want  to  show  you  the 
Josephine.  She  is  small,  and  easily  handled,  com 
pared  with  the  ship  ;  and  if  we  should  meet  you  and 
your  parents,  I  hope  we  shall  have  another  excursion 
somewhere.  If  there  has  been  another  shooting  match 
in  the  Botanical  Gardens,  I  shall  depend  upon  hearing 
all  about  it  from  you.  Please  to  give  my  kindest  re 
gards  to  your  father  and  mother,  and  believe  me  still, 
"  Very  truly  yours, 

"PAUL  KENDALL." 

It  was  Saturday  night  when  the  ship's  company 
went  on  board  of  the  Young  America.  After  the 
excursion  to  Stirling  and  Edinburgh,  Arthur  McLeish 
Was  still  in  the  brig,  where  he  had  been  carefully 
guarded  by  the  boatswain,  and  where  he  had  had  an 
opportunity  to  consider  the  error  of  his  ways.  On 
Sunday  morning,  when  the  steward  carried  him  his 
breakfast,  he  expressed  a  desire  to  see  the  principal, 
and  was  conducted  to  the  main  cabin  ;  but  he  only 
wished  to  inform  Air.  Lowington  that  he  preferred 
expulsion  to  such  an  imprisonment  as  he  was  under 
going.  He  was  told  again  that  boys  were  not  ex 
pelled  from  the  Academy,  but  were  compelled  to  obey 
the  rules.  He  was  remanded  to  the  brig  again  for 
further  consideration  of  the  matter. 

On  Monday  morning,  the  ship  sailed  for  Oban,  and 
as  she  went  outside  of  all  the  islands,  McLeish  was  ter 
ribly  seasick.  He  was  taken  on  deck,  and  permitted 
to  lie  on  la  blanket  by  the  side  of  the  skylight ;  but  he 
sufiered  severely,  and  apparently  repented  of  his  mis' 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    333 

conduct.  He  made  humble  apologies  and  fair  prom 
ises,  so  that  when  he  recovered  he  was  permitted  to 
go  to  his  duty.  What  his  penitence  amounted  to, 
and  how  well  he  kept  his  promises,  the  sequel  will 
show. 

The  ship  came  to  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Oban 
after  a  run  of  thirty-six  hours.  The  trip  thiough  the 
wild  scenery  of  the  Caledonian  Canal  to  Inverness  was 
made  in  the  steamers,  and  the  ship's  company  saw 
Ben  Nevis,  visited  various  castles,  and  enjoyed  the 
picturesque  views  with  which  the  Highlands  abound. 
From  Oban  the  ship  went  to  Staffa,  and  after  explor 
ing  Fingal's  Cave,  sailed  for  Stornoway,  a  town  in  the 
most  northern  of  the  Hebrides.  On  her  return  she 
made  a  harbor  at  Portree,  in  the  Island  of  Skye.  In 
these  northern  regions  the  students  studied  Nature  in 
its  wildest  phases,  visited  caves,  peaks,  and  mountain 
lochs  ;  but  the  routine  of  school  duty  was  hardly  inter 
mitted  for  a  single  day. 

From  Portree,  on  the  25th  of  June,  the  ship  de 
parted  for  Liverpool,  and  after  a  pleasant  passage 
of  three  days,  anchored  in  the  Mersey,  the  first  port 
in  England  which  the  Young  America  had  visited. 
The  pilot  moored  her  a  short  distance  from  the  Jose 
phine,  and  officers  and  crew  immediately  sprang  into 
the  rigging  to  obtain  a  fair  view  of  the  graceful  little 
craft. 

"  Isn't  she  a  beauty  !  "  exclaimed  Paul  Kendall,  as 
he  gazed  with  a  sailor's  interest  at  her  graceful  lines, 
her  raking  masts,  and  her  tapering  spars. 

"  She  is  all  of  that,"  replied  Pelham,  rather  gloom 
ily.  "  I  suppose  I  have  no  chance  of  going  in  her." 


334  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Perhaps  you  will ;  your  chance  is  as  good  as  any 
one's." 

"  I  think  not ;  I  fooled  away  all  my  chances.  I  war 
gone  about  three  weeks  ;  I  have  tried  to  make  up  my 
back  lessons ;  but  of  course  I  can't  expect  to  accom 
plish  much." 

Pelhain,  since  his  return  to  the  ship,  had  behaved 
in  the  most  exemplary  manner.  His  daring  deed  in 
Loch  Lomond  had  won  for  him  the  sympathies  of 
the  faculty  and  the  officers  ;  but  Mr.  Ldwington  had 
already  decided  that  the  rules  of  the  ship  could  not 
be  varied,  any  further  than  to  remit  the  punishment 
for  his  misconduct.  There  was  a  standing  regulation 
that  any  scholar  might  make  up  lost  lessons  and  re 
ceive  his  marks ;  but  Pelham  had  missed  too  many 
recitations  to  expect  to  make  them  all  good  ;  though, 
as  he  was  a  good  scholar,  it  was  hoped  that  he  would 
save  his  position  in  the  after-cabin,  especially  as  nine 
new  officers  would  be  required  for  the  Josephine. 

When  the  ship  swung  round  to  her  anchor,  every 
thing  was  put  in  order  as  usual.  Captain  Bean  came 
on  board  from  the  Josephine,  and  reported  the  details 
of  his  voyage  to  Mr.  Lowington.  Towards  night, 
after  the  arrival  of  the  ship  had  been  duly  reported  in 
the  city,  a  boat,  with  two  men  and  two  boys  in  the 
stern  sheets,  was  announced  as  approaching  the  ac 
commodation  ladder. 


YOUNG  AMERICA   IN   IRELAND   AND   SCOTLAND.  335 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

CONCLUSION. 

HOW  are  you,  Wilton?"  shouted  Templeton,  av 
he  recognized  the  runaways  in  the  boat. 

"  How  are  you,  Monroe?  "  added  another  of  "  our 
fellows,"  who  was  standing  in  the  main  rigging. 

When  it  was  certain  that  the  runaways  were  ac 
tually  alongside,  a  tremendous  sensation  pervaded  the 
ship,  and  all  seemed  to  feel  that  authority  had  been 
vindicated  ;  that  though  the  deserters  had  been  absent 
over  a  month,  the  hand  of  justice  had  overtaken  them 
at  last. 

Bulden  and  Gearing,  the  two  detectives  who  had 
arrested  the  runaways,  marched  them  up  the  ladder 
to  the  deck  of  the  ship.  They  were  cowed  and  crest 
fallen,  though  they  looked  upon  their  shipmates  with 
a  smile,  and  tried  to  seem  unconcerned.  When  Mr. 
Lowington  and  Mr.  Fluxion  came  forward,  the  de 
serters  touched  their  caps  from  the  force  of  habit. 

"  Well,  young  gentlemen,  you  have  returned,"  said 
the  principal. 

"  We  have  been  brought  back,"  replied  Wilton,  sul 
lenly. 

"  Then  you  did  not  come  back  willingly?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  we  would  not  have  corne  back  if  we 


33^  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

could  have  helped  it,"  answered  Wilton,  who  thought 
these  replies  were  smart  and  plucky. 

"  Where  have  you  been  since  you  left  Glasgow?" 
asked  Mr.  Lowington. 

"  To  London." 

"  Mr.  Peaks,"  called  the  principal. 

"  Here,  sir,"  replied  the  boatswain,  stepping  for 
ward  and  touching  his  cap. 

"  Commit  these  two  young  gentlemen  to  the  brig, 
and  allow  no  one  to  communicate  with  them." 

Of  course  the  deserters  expected  this,  and  they  did 
not  attempt  to  resist  the  order.  Following  Peaks  to 
the  steerage,  they  were  locked  up  in  the  ship's  prison, 
and  left  to  think  of  their  experience  in  running  away, 
which,  as  our  readers  know,  had  not  been  altogether 
pleasant.  But  Wilton  was  not  yet  subdued.  A  cer 
tain  weak  and  wicked  pride  prevented  him  from  ac 
knowledging  the  error  of  his  ways.  Surly  and  spite 
ful  he  went  into  confinement,  with  a  determination  to 
escape  if  he  could,  and  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  sub 
vert  the  discipline  of  the  ship. 

John  Gearing  related  the  incidents  of  his  pursuit  of 
the  runaways,  magnifying  the  difficulties  he  had  over 
come  in  order  to  enhance  the  value  of  his  own  ser 
vices.  Wilton  and  Monroe  had  gone  to  Edinburgh 
when  they  escaped  from  their  captor.  Fearing  an 
immediate  pursuit,  they  hastened  to  Leith,  the  sea 
port  of  Edinburgh  ;  and  finding  a  steamer  about  to  sail 
for  London,  they  embarked  in  her,  taking  a  second  cabin 
passage,  for  which  they  paid  fifteen  shillings  apiece. 

On  their  arrival  in  London,  they  engaged  a  bed 
room  for  five  shillings  a  week,  and  proceeded  to  view 


YOUNG    AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    337 

the  city,  intending  to  remain  there  until  remittances 
came  from  home.  The  steamer  by  which  the  money 
was  expected  to  come  would  be  due  within  two  weeks, 
and  Wilton  proposed,  as  soon  as  their  funds  were  in 
condition,  to  put  a  greater  distance  between  himself 
and  the  ship. 

John  Gearing  was  shrewd,  as  we  have  before  inti 
mated,  and  having  been  joined  by  Bulden,  their  united 
wisdom  was  a  heavy  odds  against  the  deserters.  They 
knew  very  well  what  the  boys  would  desire  to  see 
first.  Gearing  had  tracked  them  to  Leith,  and  reached 
London  almost  as  soon  as  they  did.  He  went  to  all 
the  notable  places  in  the  city,  from  St.  Paul's  to  the 
.Thames  Tunnel,  taking  such  information  as  the  door 
keepers  and  porters  could  give  him  ;  but  being  in  no 
hurry  to  find  them,  he  contrived  to  miss  them  for  a 
week,  for  London  is  a  large  city,  and  the  addition  of 
two  boys  made  but  a  slight  impression  upon  it. 

When  Bulden  joined  him,  they  made  the  round  of 
the  music  halls  in  a  single  evening  without  success.. 
But  as  it  was  certain  that  the  runaways  would  visit 
these  places,  and  drinking  ale  and  listening  to  comic 
songs  were  entirely  to  John  Gearing's  taste,  the  pleas- 
antest  way  to  find  the  boys  would  be  to  spend  all  their 
evenings  in  these  resorts,  especially  as  the  ship  paid 
for  the  beer  and  the  admission  fees. 

Wilton  and  Monroe  had  been  in  London  a  week 
before  they  discovered  what  music  halls  were.  They 
entered  one  in  Oxford  Street,  drank  ale,  and  listened 
to  the  music.  It  was  a  cheap  recreation  for  persons 
of  low  taste,  and  they  went  to  another  the  next  even 
ing  in  Holborn. 
29 


338  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  Our  money  will  certainly  be  here  to-morrow," 
said  Wilton.  "  There's  a  Velegraph  in  the  evening 
papers  from  Crookhaven." 

'•  I  hope  so,"  replied  Monroe,  moodily,  for  he  was 
about  tired  of  the  life  of  anxiety  he  was  leading. 

"  We  will  be  off  for  Paris  as  soon  as  we  get  it. 
We  shall  have  a  high-o  time  there." 

"  Twenty  pounds  apiece  will  not  last  us  long. 
What  shall  we  do  when  it  is  gone?"  asked  Monroe. 

"  Write  for  more,  as  soon  as  we  get  the  first  remit 
tance." 

"  Suppose  the  money  should  come  payable  to  Mr. 
Lowington's  order,  or  something  of  that  kind,"  sug 
gested  Monroe. 

"  O,  it  won't !    Don't  croak,  Ike.    Have  some  ale?" 

"  Thank  you  ;  I  don't  care  if  I  do,"  said  John  Gear 
ing,  suddenly  dropping  into  a  chair  by  Wilton's  side. 

"Where  did  you  come  from?"  demanded  Wilton, 
startled  by  the  sound  of  that  familiar  voice,  and  thrown 
into  confusion  by  his  presence. 

"  I  came  from  Glasgow  since  I  saw  you  last.  I 
hope  you've  been  well.  Are  you  ready  to  go  to  Liv 
erpool  with  me?  " 

"  No,  I  am  not !  "  answered  Wilton,  angrily. 

"  Well,  I'm  sorry  you  are  not ;  for  you  must  go 
there  with  me,"  laughed  John  Gearing.  "  Shall  I 
ask  one  of  the, London  police  to  arrest  you,  or  will 
you  go  quietly  ?  " 

Wilton  was  appalled  at  the  idea  of  being  arrested, 
and  Monroe  actually  trembled  with  fear.  The  detec 
tive  went  with  them  to  their  lodgings,  spent  the  night 
with  them,  and  the  next  morning,  after  paying  their 


r 

YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.     339 

bill,  —  for  their  own  funds  were  exhausted,  —  and 
sending  for  Bulden,  started  for  Liverpool  with  them. 
They  had  been  there  a  week  when  the  Young  Amer 
ica  arrived,  living  with  their  captors  in  a  small  hotel, 
closely  watched,  day  and  night,  by  one  or  the  other 
of  them.  Wilton  did  not  cease  to  look  for  a  chance 
to  run  away  again  until  the  boat  which  gonveyed  him 
off  was  alongside  the  ship.  lie  made  one  attempt, 
•which  failed  ;  and  now,  when  he  found  himself  in  the 
brig,  he  set  about  studying  up  some  method  of  getting 
away. 

After  the  detectives  had  told  their  story,  Mr.  Low- 
ington  paid  their  bill,  and  they  departed,  apparently 
well  pleased  with  the  profitable  employment  they  had 
received. 

McLeish  had  heard  the  story  of  the  deserters,  and 
as  soon  as  he  had  an  opportunity  he  took  a  look  at 
them  in  their  prison.  He  sympathized  with  them  ; 
and  not  being  allowed  to  go  on  shore,  he  considered 
how  he  might  serve  them  and  himself  at  the  same 
time.  There  would  be  an  opportunity,  when  the  ship's 
company  were  on  shore,  for  him  to  do  something  for 
them.  But  everybody  was  so  busy  on  board  that  the 
boats  only  went  ashore  for  supplies  for  three  days. 

There  were  only  two  days  more  in  the  month  when 
the  ship  anchored  in  the  Mersey.  The  boys  talked 
of  nothing  but  the  Josephine  and  the  offices,  which 
were  to  be  distributed  on  Thursday.  Many  of  them 
were  exceedingly  anxious  about  the  result.  Some  in 
the  after-cabin  feared  they  should  be  sent  to  the  steer 
age,  and  some  in  the  steerage  feared  they  should  not 
be  sent  into  the  after-cabin.  The  eventful  day  came ; 


340  SHAMROCK   AND    THISTLE,    OR 

and  after  the  recitations  had  been  completed,  and  the 
results  added  for  the  month,  all  hands  were  piped  to 
muster.  There  were  beating  hearts  in  the  ship  then, 
for  a  brief  period  would  decide  who  were  to  be  offi 
cers  and  who  were  to  be  disappointed.  Mr.  Lo wing- 
ton  mounted  his  rostrum,  and  there  was  nothing  to  be 
heard  but  the  waves  beating  against  the  side  of  the 
ship. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  before  announcing  the  results 
of  your  last  quarter's  work,  I  wish  briefly  to  review 
the  events  of  that  period,"  the  principal  began  ;  and 
he  proceeded  to  state  the  chief  incidents  of  the  cruise, 
commenting  upon  them  as  he  went  along. 

He  gave  the  history  of  the  deserters  to  the  ship's 
company,  including  their  misfortunes  and  their  final 
arrest,  which  seemed  to  make  an  impression  on  the 
crew.  He  commended  officers  and  seamen  for  their 
general  good  conduct,  and  assured  them  that  he  was 
disposed  to  trust  them  as  far  as  they  would  permit 
him  to  do  so. 

"  One  of  the  principal  elements  of  good  seaman 
ship,"  he  continued,  "is  self-reliance  —  confidence  in 
one's  own  ability.  Although  the  officers  of  the  ship 
have  handled  her  with  very  little  dictation  from  me, 
they  have  always  felt  that  there  was  some  one  near 
upon  whom  they  could  cast  the  responsibility  when  it 
became  too  heavy  for  their  own  shoulders.  I  purpose 
to  establish  a  school  in  which  there  shall  be  no  evad 
ing  the  responsibility  of  your  positions.  Alongside 
of  us  lies  our  future  consort,  the  Josephine.  To-mor 
row  she  will  be  put  in  commission.  With  the  excep 
tion  of  two  professors,  who  are  not  seamen,  a  boat* 


YOUNG   AMERICA    IN    IRELAND    AND    SCOTLAND.    34! 

swain  and  carpenter,  and  the  cook  and  stewards,  there 
will  be  none  but  students  on  board  of  her.  The  offi 
cers  will  be  absolute  there." 

This  announcement  caused  a  great  sensation,  for  the 
captain  of  the  Josephine  would  be  a  great  man. 

"  Of  course  the  Josephine  will  be  generally  near  the 
ship,  and  the  two  vessels  will  sail  in  company  so  far 
as  practicable.  By  the  next  steamer  thirty  students, 
perhaps  more,  will  arrive,  all  of  whom  will  be  quar 
tered  on  board  of  the  ship,  and  the  crew  of  the  Jose 
phine  will  be  selected  from  those  now  on  board. 

"  Young  gentlemen,  Captain  Gordon  is  so  faithful 
and  devoted,  both  as  a  scholar  and  a  seaman,"  added 
the  principal,  with  a  smile,  "  that  I  think  none  of  you 
will  be  able  to  displace  him  from  his  present  position. 
I  find  that  he  stands  nine  .merits  ahead  of  the  next  be 
low  him,  and  is  still  entitled  to  the  highest  place  in 
the  ship.  I  wish  to  open  the  way  for  the  ambition  of 
others  who  have  done  remarkably  well,  and  therefore 
I  have  concluded  to  create  a  new  office  —  that  of  past 
captain.  Hereafter,  during  the  present  year,  no  stu 
dent  will  serve  more  tharf  one  term  as  captain.  Of 
course  this  rule  will  increase  all  your  chances  of  pro 
motion  ;  and  I  have  learned  that,  in  the  service,  pro 
motion  is  one  of  the  chief  incentives  to  fidelity.  Hav 
ing  two  vessels,  we  are  now  a  squadron,  and  I  shall 
appoint  Captain  Gordon  to  the  honorable  position  of 
flag  officer." 

Mr.  Lowington  smiled,  as  Captain  Gordon  touched 
his  cap  in  acknowledgment  of  the  compliment. 

"  Three  cheers  for  Flag  Officer  Gordon  !  "  shouted 
Paul  Kendall ;  and  they  were  given. 
29* 


3-J.2  SHAMROCK    AND    THISTLE,    OR 

"  I  shall  have  a  cabin  built  for  the  new  office*/  at 
once.  It  will  occupy  the  space  abaft  the  state-rooms 
in  the  after-cabin.  And  now,  young  gentlemen,"  con 
tinued  the  principal,  taking  a  paper  from  his  pocket, 
which  made  the  hearts  of  some  of  the  students  leap 
up  into  their  throats,  "  I  will  announce  the  names  of 
the  officers  for  the  next  term.  The  highest  in  rank 
will  command  the  Young  America ;  the  second,  the 
Josephine  ;  the  third  will  be  first  lieutenant  of  the 
ship  ;  the  fourth,  first  lieutenant  of  the  consort ;  and 
so  on  ;  but  there  will  be  but  nine  cabin  officers  at 
tached  to  the  Josephine.- 

"  Captain  Gordon  has  the  highest  number  of  merits. 
Between  the  next  two  there  is  a  difference  of  only  one 
mark;  and  Joseph  Haven,  being  the  highest,  will  be 
captain  of  the  ship  for  the  ensuing  three  months." 

The  announcement  was  greeted  with  a  cheer  ;  but  so 
intense  was  the  anxiety  to  know  who  the  next  in  order 
was,  that  the  cheer  was  rather  faint. 

"  Only  one  merit  below  him  stands  the  commander 
of  the  Josephine,"  added  Mr.  Lowington,  with  a  pause 
and  a  smile  ;  "  and  he  is  Paul  Kendall." 

The  cheer  given  when  the  name  was  called  was 
very  emphatic  and  decided,  and  the  professors,  led 
off  by  Dr.  \Vinstock,  clapped  their  hands  vigorously. 
Mr.  Lowington  shook  hands  with  Captain  Haven  and 
with  Captain  Kendall,  congratulating  them  upon  the 
distinction  they  had  won.  Paul  blushed  ;  but  he  was 
the  happiest  student  on  board  the  ship,  and  thankful 
that  Haven  had  beaten  him  by  one  mark,  for  he  had 
obtained  the  position  he  desired  above  all  others. 

There  were  other  beating  hearts  on  the  deck  of  the 


YOUNG   AMERICA   IN    IRELAND   AND    SCOTLAND.    343 

ship,  and  the  principal  continued  to  read  the  merit 
roll.  Most  of  the  cabin  officers  went  up  to  higher 
places  than  before,  and  ten  passed  from  the  steerage 
to  the  quarter  deck.  Pelham,  who  had  struggled  so 
hard  since  his  return  to  keep  his  rank,  came  in  as  sec 
ond  master  of  the  Josephine.  He  declared  that  he 
was  satisfied  with  the  result,  especially  as  his  place 
was  in  the  cabin  of  the  schooner. 

The  list  was  read  through,  and  there  was  the  usual 
amount  of  grumbling,  "  our  fellows"  doing  the  greater 
part  of  it.  Twenty-four  petty  officers  and  seamen 
were  detailed  for  the  Josephine.  As  it  was  under 
stood  that  nearly  all  the  crew  desired  to  be  in  her, 
because  there  was  a  novelty  about  the  new  vessel, 
Mr.  Lovvington,  wishing  to  be  fair  about  the  detail, 
required  every  third  name  to  be  entered  on  the  Jose 
phine's  books  as  the  list  was  called.  If  any  did  not 
behave  well,  they  were  to  be  exchanged  into  the  ship. 
It  so  happened  that  McLcish  was  one  of  the  twenty- 
four  ;  but  as  he  had  behaved  well  since  the  ship  sailed 
for  Oban,  he  was  not  set  aside,  though  he  was  still 
deprived  of  certain  privileges. 

The  next  morning,  the  first  day  of  the  new  term, 
the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Josephine  were  ordered  to 
their  vessel,  and  in  a  short  time  the  star-spangled  ban 
ner  was  floating  at  her  peak  as  a  signal  that  she  had 
"  gone  into  commission."  On  ship  and  shore  around 
them  was  displayed  another  flag  —  that  of  England  ; 
and  what  adventures  the  students  had,  what  famous 
places  they  visited,  and  what  voyages  the  ship  and  her 
consort  made,  shall  be  narrated  in  "  RED  CROSS,  OF 
YOUNG  AMERICA  IN  ENGLAND  AND  WALES." 


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^^ 


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THE    DOCTOR'S    DAUGHTER. 


NEW  PUBLICATIONS   OF  LEE   &>   SHRPARD. 
"One  hundred  and  twenty  Selections." 

MISCELLANEOUS  READINGS  IN  PROSE  AND  VERSi 

By  PROF.  L.  B.  MONROE.     $1.50. 

"  Some  of  the  best  things  of  current  literature  may  be  found  gather 
here.''  —  Boston  Advertiser. 

"  For  Social  Amusements." 

SOCIAL  CHARADES  AND  PARLOR  OPERAS.  By  M.  T. 

CALDER,  Author  of  "College  Ned,"  &c.  IGmo.  Cloth,  75c; 
fancy  bound,  60c. 

"  These  charades  and  operas,  prepared  for  private  representation,  have 
beeii  received  with  great  lavor  by  those  requiring  exhibition  pieces." 

Underwood's  American  Authors. 

HAND-BOOK  OF  ENGLISH  LITERATURE.    Intended  for 

the  use  of  High  Schools,  as  well  as  a  Companion  and  Guide 
for  Private  Students,  and  for  General  Headers.  (Aim-rii-m 
Authors.)  By  F.  H.  UNDEUWOOD,  A.  M.  Crown  8vo.  Cloth. 
$2.50. 

Tt  is  confined  to  Amf-rie.in  authors,  and  includes  the  most  prominent 
writers  hi  the  three  periods  which  cover  our  entire  national  history. 

Underwood's  British  Authors. 

HAND-BOOK  OF  ENGLISH  LITERATURE.    Intended  for 

the  use  of  High  Schools,  as  well  as  a  Companion  and  Guide 
for   Private    Students,    and   for   General   Keaders.      (British 
Authors.)     By  FRANCIS  H.  UNDERWOOD,  A.  M.     Crown  8vo. 
Cloth.     $2.50. 
Mr.  Underwood's  Biographical  Notices,  which  precede  the  selections 

from  prominent  authors,  are  admirable  in  construction,  gems  of  literary 

work,  attractive  and  valuable. 

The  Young  Voyagers  again. 

YOUNG   AMERICA   ABROAD.    By  OLIVER  OPTTC.    To  be 
completed  in  6  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  vol.,  $1.50. 

1.  UP  THE  BALTIC. 

2.  NORTHERN  LANDS. 

3.  CROSS  AND  CRESCENT. 
A  library  of  romantic  travel  and  adventure. 


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AMERICAN    GIRL    ABROAD. 


NEW  PUBLICATIONS  OF  LEE  &  SHEPARD. 

By  Oliver  Optic. 

THE  YACHT    CLUB    SERIES.     By  OLIVER  OPTIC.     To  be 
completed  in  6  volumes.     Illustrated.     Per  vol.,  $1.50. 

1.  LITTLE   BOBTAIL. 

2.  THE    YACHT   CLUB.     (Tn  props.) 

Each  story  complete  in  itself,  and  all  in  Oliver  Optic's  best  vein. 

By  B.  P.  Shillaber. 

PARTINGTONIAN    PATCHWORK. 

BLIFKINS    TIIK    MARTYR;    on,    THE    DOMKSTIC    TUIAI.S    OF   A 

MODEL  HUSBAND. 
THE  MODERN  SYNTAX:  Dr..  SPOONI:U'S  EXIMCHIKXCK  IN  SICAKOH 

OF  TIII:  DKLECTABLE. 
PARTI  XGTOX   PATERS;   STRIPPINGS   OF   TIIK  WARM    MILK   OK 

Hl'MAN    KlXDNKSS. 

NEW  AND  OLD  THINGS  FROM  AN  UNPRETENDING  INK 
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BEK  (JI/M.  J'tirtiiiytoit).  1-jnio.  Clotli.  Illustrated.  Sl.;5. 

The  p'iii:il  author  of  this  volume  has  packed  it  full  of  bright  and 
witty  things. 

By  Elijah  Kellogg. 

THF.  WHISPERING   PINE    SERIES.     By  EI.I..AH  KKLLOOO. 
To  be  completed  in  (5  volumes.     Illustrated.     1'er  vol.,  •'jil.Jo. 

1.  THE   SI'ARK   OF  GENII'S. 

2.  THE   SOPHOMORES  OF   RADCLIFFE. 

3.  WINNING    HIS    SITUS. 

4.  THE   TURNING    OF   THE   TIDE.     (In  press.) 

Mr.  Kollo^rij1  j.rosents   somo   nrliiiiraMo   clinrtictcrs  ntnoiifj  his  college 
boys,  and  every  volume  of  this  s<  lirs  is  briiuiul  of  fun  and  adventure. 

"Nothing  better  ever  written." 

THE    PLEASANT    COVE    SERIES.      By  ELIJAH  KELLOGG. 
To  be  completed  in  6  volumes.     Per  vol..  $1.1'5. 

1.  ARTHUR   BROWN,  THE   YOUNG   CAPTAIX. 

2.  THE   YOUNG   DELIVERERS. 

3.  THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  CASCO. 

4.  THE  CHILD  OF  THE  ISLAND  GLEN. 

"Tho  Elm   Island   StnHos."  by  tiiis  author,  are  deservedly  popular. 
"  The  i'lcuoaJut  Cove  iSuriud"  deals  with  inouy  of  the  suiue  chiiiucters. 


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THE    LITTLE    CANARY. 


Lee  Sr3  Shepard^s  Recent  Publications. 


NEW    JUVENILE    BOOKS. 


THE  DICK  AND  DAISY  SERIES.  By  Miss  ADELAIDE 
F.  SAMUELS.  Fourvols.  Illustrated.  Per  vol.,  50  cts. 

"A.very  pretty  box  of  small  books  for  the  juveniles.  There  are  four  vol 
umes-,  'of  a  hundred  pages  each.  We  have  first  the  Early  Days  of  Dick  and 
Daisy,  '  Adrift  in  the  World  ; '  their  City  Life,  '  Fighting  the  Battle  ;  '  their 
Protegds,  '  Saved  from  the  Street ; '  and  their  Reward,  or  '  Grandfather  Mil- 
ly's  Luck.'  This  is  a  charming  collection,  written  by  Miss  Adelaide  F.  Sam 
uels,  of  whom,  judging  from  these  volumes,  the  world  will  hear  more  here 
after."  —  A  merican  Baptist. 

SINGULAR   CREATURES  ;    Being  Studies  and  Stories  from 
the  Domestic  Zoology  of  our  Parish.      By  Mrs.  GEORGE 
CUPPLES,  author  of  "  Driven  to  Sea,"  &c.     i6mo.     Illus 
trated.     Cloth.     $1.50. 
The  London  papers  thus  speak -of  the  authoress:  — 

"  Of  the  miscellaneous  articles,  none  are  more  charming  than  those  by  Mrs. 
Geo.  Cupples.  .  .  .  Her  stories  are  for  all  readers,  whether  few  or  many 
years  old."  —  London  Times  (The  Thunderer). 

"  Mrs.  Geo.  Cupples.  who  is  already  very  favorably  known  as  the  writer  of 
any  number  of  capital  stories  for  juveniles,  has  succeeded  in  this  instance  in 
producing  a  charming  story."  —  Scotsman. 

"We  shall  be  mistaken  if  these  well-written  stories  do  not  commend  them 
selves  to  the  good  judgments  of  our  readers."  —  Netu  Alonthly  RLigazine. 

"Very  interesting,  and  will  afford  many  hours  of  amusement. "  —  Observer. 

"Very  charming  and  attractive."  —  London  Record. 

"  Nicely  and  freshly  written,  perfectly  healthy  in  tone,  and  remarkable  for 
a  pleasant  flow  of  human  kindness."  —  London  Illustrated  News. 

THE  AMERICAN  HOME  BOOK  of  Indoor  Games,  Amuse 
ments,  and  Occupations.  By  Mrs.  CAROLINE  L,.  SMITH 
(Aunt  Carrie).  i6mo.  Illustrated.  $1.50. 

"  In  compiling  this  '  American  Home  Book,*  the  author  has  admirably  suc 
ceeded  in  mingling  both  work  and  play,  and  such  amusements  have  been 
selected,  together  with  directions  for  useful  and  ornamental  work,  as  can  be 
recommended  to  our  young  readers.  Among  its  contents  are :  Amusements 
for  little  boys  and  girls,  musical  and  other  games  for  little  children,  games  of 
memory,  games  for  old  and  young,  new  games,  material  magic,  head  work, 
answers  to  head  work,  amusements  for  Christmas  holidays,  Christmas, 
triloquism,  gardening,  flowers,  house  and  home  arts,  the  toilet,  home  readit 
the  sick  room,  directions  for  making  bread,  yeast,  &c. "  —  Eagle,  Pitts, 


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